This weekend sees the start of the season for our very own Girls Academy! Our teams from Under 10s through to Under 16s will be in action at home at the LNER Stadium against Norwich Girls Academy.
In Lincolnshire there has been a gaping hole in the player pathway for young girls wanting to excel in football. The step beyond grassroots football has been non-existent in Lincolnshire for many years, meaning those who showed talent had nowhere to progress to. Our Girls Academy programme aims to change that. Our programme aims to give talented female players in the local area an opportunity to represent the Lincoln City badge in an elite environment. Whilst competing in an exclusive club community trust fixtures list, the players will have substantial opportunities to develop and improve their game, beyond that available at grassroots level. The Academy provides players with elite training delivered by highly experienced and qualified staff, opportunities that are finally closer to home for many talented young female footballers. This programme is the first step in ensuring our female players have the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
Our Girls Academy will play in a league comprising of teams from other CCOs such as Norwich, West Ham and Cambridge at top quality facilities. Girls who wish to remain within their grassroots club can do so as the league is exclusive to CCOs and is separate from the grassroots leagues.
This means we now have a complete pathway for girls; from Development Centre, to Academy through to adult football. Girls who show talent in our development centres can and will be invited to our Academy. When girls reach the age of 16 and come to the end of their time within the Girls Academy, there is direct progression to our Women’s Academy, providing players with an elite pathway right through from the age of 9 to adult football.
It is an exciting time to be involved with girls football in Lincolnshire. Good luck to all of our girls teams for this weekend!