Hursthead Junior School girls football team success
Inspiring girls to play football
Hursthead Junior School year 5 and 6 girls football team won a fiercely contested qualifying tournament at Manchester City's Academy to represent Manchester City at the Premier League Primary Stars National Event at Leeds United’s ground.
The tournament lasted 4 days. 80 teams from 49 schools across Greater Manchester competed to represent Manchester City at the finals, with Hursthead Junior School coming out on top.
The team stepped onto the pitch at Elland Road with 19 other Premier League teams from across the country to compete for the chance to be crowned champions. The team played brilliantly to go on to place sixth in the tournament. With the main striker Lucia only missing out on being the top-scorer for the whole event by one goal!
They also got the full football experience as they had their photo taken with the Premier League trophy in the Leeds United changing rooms.
Andrew Foden
Playing with the Manchester City kit on, with their names and numbers on the back of the shirts, and in front of a large crowd at a Premier League stadium is a memory which will stay with them all forever. I'm very confident that some of these players will go on to play for women's super league clubs and even England one day as they are so passionate and committed.
Andrew Foden, PE Coordinator and FA Level 1 Coach at Hursthead Junior School, said:
"Back at school, our girls football club goes from strength to strength and is something which I have nurtured for 15 years since starting my teaching career. The way attitudes and participation in girls football has changed over that time is unbelievable and I'm incredibly proud that we have been at the forefront of this, even before the success of the fabulous Lionesses last year.
We have had girls involved in their own after-school clubs and matches and tournaments ever since I started teaching. It’s great we keep attracting girls who are unsure about football and then after a few times at our after school club, become hooked. The benefits of team sport and being involved in an after-school club are huge both socially and from a mental health point of view. This coupled with the resilience and problem-solving skills you learn through playing a sport is invaluable."
The school has over 40 girls from Y5 and Y6 involved in football, the success of the team has inspired even more girls to join. Every participant at the after-school club, has had the opportunity to represent the school in competitive matches or tournaments.