This International Women’s Day (2023), Brent Cross Town has partnered with Barnet Nightingales, one of London’s leading grassroots girls football clubs, to launch a unique training programme that provides girls with access to free football training, igniting a new generation of female football players.
The Community Training Programme is London’s largest girls-only training programme, offering daily football classes for girls ages 6 to 16 years old, with every session led by a UEFA qualified coach, many of which are female. Players from London City Lionesses, London’s first independent professional women’s club, will also be joining the Community Training Programme to provide first hand advice and guidance.
Each week until 31 August 2023, Barnet Nightingales will host 10 free football coaching sessions for girls and young women from across London at Barnet Powerleague in Friern Barnet, N10. This completely free coaching programme is open to girls with any level of experience, from those trying football for the first time to skilled and experienced players.
The Barnet Nightingales football club is the second largest club in the London Capital Girls League, the largest girls football league in London, with over 40 clubs, 125 teams and some 2,000 girls playing in the 2022/23 season. Barnet Nightingales was established in 2015 with a mission to develop grassroots girls’ football in Barnet and provide a pathway for female players to progress their footballing careers. Barnet Nightingales now has 11 teams and 150 female players aged between 7 and 17 years old.
Brent Cross Town is one of the largest regeneration schemes in Europe. Brent Cross Town’s partnership with Barnet Nightingales is the first such partnership with a sports team and its supports reflects the new town’s commitment to encourage greater diversity and inclusion in sports and play activities.
Morwenna Hall, Partner, Related Argent, commenting on behalf of Brent Cross Town: “We are proud to be supporting the Barnet Nightingales and to launch this unique free coaching opportunity for young women and girls across London. I particularly hope this training programme reaches girls in Barnet and inspires them to try football. Through our partnership with Women in Sport, we know there is a real need to champion inclusivity in sport – it can play such a crucial role in improving confidence and enhancing wellbeing, as well as creating the next generation of female athletes. Brent Cross Town is committed to addressing the imbalance in participation, and to providing the support and facilities for girls and women to enjoy and succeed.”
Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council, said: “Brent Cross Town’s sponsorship of the Barnet Nightingale’s Community Training Programme will mean many girls get access to free football training by a UEFA qualified coach in Barnet, no matter what their level of football experience. This is exactly the type of opportunity that I want our regeneration programmes to provide and one of the ways we are creating more opportunities to the community through the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme.”
Simon Reid, Chairman of Barnet Nightingales FC and League Secretary of the Capital Girls League, said: “I have been coaching girls’ football for 17 years and it is brilliant to see it flourish, get a real foothold and prestige which we are working to establish for the long term. From training the Lionesses of the future to camaraderie and teamwork, football is a great way to develop skills, confidence and to have a lot of fun. I hope that our free football coaching sessions will mean many more girls and young women will take the opportunity to give it a go.”
Diane Culligan, Chairman and Founder of London City Lionesses and Management Committee member of the Capital Girls League, said: “I would like to think London City Lionesses will be around in 150 years’ time. In order to achieve this, we have to cultivate the next generation of female footballers. The Community Training Programme that has been launched this week fits perfectly with our vision to enable girls, who have never played football before, to have a legitimate and unique pathway to become a Lioness. With the help of our partners, we hope we can inspire initiatives like this one across the whole of London and ultimately the UK so we can help protect and sustain the growth of the women and girls’ game.”
Lincoln Bron age 10 playing for Barnet Nightingales U10’s Team said: “I joined the Barnet Nightingales at the beginning of the season and have had so much fun and scored loads of goals. I absolutely love being part of this club and my team is currently top of the league. The best thing about being a Nightingale is all the cool things that we get to do outside of just our regular training and Saturday matches. The coaches take us to play friendly matches, tournaments and nights out to watch the professional girls play. The club and all the coaches are brilliant, and I hope that more girls come out and play football and join our club.”
Sarah Gibb, age 8, who recently joined the Community Training Programme, said: “Wow, this training programme is super cool, I wasn’t sure I’d like football, but this has got me hooked! I’ve learned so many new things and it’s been really fun too. The coaches have been amazing, and I’ve also got to meet some new friends and even been able to play with my school friends. I really look forward to coming back next week.”