GIRLS’ Football Week has been hailed as a great success in showcasing the amount of girls’ football in Suffolk.

The initiative, which was run by The FA from April 23rd-29th and supported by Disney, saw events run by and supported by Suffolk FA taking place across the county.

Highlights of the week included:

• A total of 19 SSE Wildcats centres – 18 new centres are starting in the county to complement the existing four – ran during the course of the week
• Ipswich Exiles and Long Melford fillies hosted girls’ taster session which were attended by 25 girls between them.
• Advanced Coaching Centre and Girls’ Development Centre training took place with around 100 girls training in the Suffolk Better Players Pathway
• The Suffolk Girls’ Development Centre under-13 and under-14 sides played fixtures against North Suffolk Academy at Kirkley & Pakefield
• Girls’ five-a-aside festivals at Thomas Gainsborough School in Great Cornard on the Tuesday and Thursday engaging secondary school girls
• Capel Plough launched their SSE Wildcats Club with a showcase event attended by 25 girls. South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge cut the ribbon and ITV Anglia news covered the opening. The girls then visited Colchester United and had a stadium tour, played on a 3G pitch, held banners as the teams came out and watched Colchester’s match versus Swindon Town
• The Suffolk Girls’ & Women’s Football League Under-15 and Under-16 Cup finals were on Sunday at Felixstowe & Walton United FC

Suffolk FA Girls’ & Women’s Football Development Officer Rebecca Bolton: “It was fantastic to get out to so many different parts of Suffolk over the week and visit girls’ football sessions.

“Girls’ Football Week is an excellent week to really showcase how much girls’ football is taking place in the county not only in girls’ football week but all the time and has proved a great success.

“Capel Plough hosted a fantastic opening SSE Wildcats session on Saturday during Girls Football Week with 25 girls taking part. They had local MP James Cartilage attend to cut the ribbon along with cameras from ITV Anglia.

“The coach Adam was very engaging and worked really well with all the girls in the tough weather conditions. I am sure this session will continue to grow as the weeks go on as the other SSE Wildcats centres have.”

Pictured above are the girls who attended the Girls’ Taster Session put on by Ipswich Exiles staged at Bourne Vale Sports & Social Club in Ipswich.

A total of 15 girls turned up to the session led by Exiles’ coaches (back row, left to right) Simon Edwards, Chris Bultitude and Ollie Langham.