SUFFOLK FA have teamed up with GOALS Ipswich to offer a female-only hour.

These opportunities will include Weetabix Wildcats, Squad Girls and Snickers Just Play, being offered as turn up and play sessions, all being delivered from their state-of-the-art football pitches.

Suffolk FA Women and Girls Football Development Officer Isabel Chaplin said: “GOALS Ipswich is an important central club for many girls and women. This collaboration will enable new and current females to get involved in football.”

The Female-Only Hour will launch on June 13th, just before the UEFA Euros begin, with sessions taking place between 5pm and 6pm on Thursday evenings, with the first session FREE.

Martin Cassidy, GOALS National Football Development Manager, said: “As the famous quote goes, ‘Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world’, we want to do just that and more.

“This is a pilot as part of our national ‘Grow the Game’ strategy and our EDI strategy therefore, it’s very important for us as a national stake holder in football, to ensure that everyone, including girls, have the right venue and the right support that will help in breaking down barriers that may exist for girls kicking a ball and enjoying the game.

 “The female game is on a huge growth curve in the 11-a-side game however, in the small-sided game, that growth curve has not manifested itself. We will do all we can to make that growth curve happen in the small-sided game.

 “With the help from Suffolk FA and other County FAs who partner with us, we believe we can have a significant positive impact on the national female game by giving female-only access to our facilities at agreed times.

“With future plans for small-sided female-only leagues at every one of our 43 clubs already in development, this is an exciting time for female football across the nation and it starts at GOALS in Ipswich. Our GOALS are your goals.”

To support the new Girls Only Hour, GOALS Ipswich are looking for partner clubs who have access to female coaches to assist with the sessions and are looking to feed into their own female provision from participants at the GOALS Ipswich run Wildcats and Squad Girls Sessions.

GOALS Ipswich will support current and prospective female coaches who want to get involved through in house training and through the FA Fully Funded Places Programme*

*Where applicable

To view GOALS' Mission Statement click here