FA Girls’ Football Week is an annual national campaign dedicated to drive participation and improve engagement levels in the women’s game. Dominic Hughes followed Northumbria University’s involvement every step of the way.
Last year, more than 130,000 girls participated nationally in FA Girls’ Football Week with 4,500 students getting involved to further fuel the growth of the female game.
And Northumbria University looked to build on that in 2017 with a series of fun and informative events and key fixtures.
Northumbria celebrated FA Girls’ Football Week by setting up goalposts in the University quad for two hours every day - with Keepy-Up competitions and Crossbar Challenges to raise awareness for the women’s game.
Additionally, the NORTH Women’s Football programme, an academic year-round club designed to offer relaxed and informal sessions for all abilities, was increasingly promoted across campus with a taster session provided for free.
Northumbria also highlighted the competitive end of the sport - featuring the W1 and W2 Football team’s fixtures against University of Birmingham and University of Leeds respectively.
W1 continued their strong start to the season in the Premier North as they secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Birmingham’s first team at Metchley Lane.
Forward Bridget Galloway scored a brace with her second coming in the 89th minute to seal a well-deserved victory.
Goalkeeper Grace Donnelly said: “It was one of those games where we had lots of chances but struggled to finish. The girls showed some great character to keep pushing up until the final few minutes before scoring and going on to win!”
Donnelly, who played a lead role in organising the activities around the Girls’ Football Week added: “It was a great success with a large turnout in the free NORTH football sessions as well as the activities put on during that week.”
W2 Football also put in a resilient and determined performance in their toughest test of the season in Northern League Division One, succumbing to a 3-2 defeat against Leeds at Coach Lane.
“We fought until the end and I am unbelievably proud of the girls - we were unlucky not to get something,” said veteran Lizzie Patterson
Patterson, who also had a significant role in organising activities to raise awareness for the Girls’ Football week added: “It was great to see so many new people interested in getting involved with the NORTH programme.”
The commitment and enthusiasm from both Donnelly and Patterson not only exemplifies the positivity and passion of Northumbria University’s sports-mad students but also demonstrates the link between the NORTH programme and Team Northumbria - driving participation in the women’s game.
It is that link that helps introduce girls to the ‘Beautiful Game’ and ultimately contributes to the Football Association’s ambitious goal of doubling the number of girls playing football by 2020.
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