Information on new League to support Female Football in Cornwall

[Dave Deacon]

Cornwall FA held a Girls Development Evening where all the teams and clubs were invited to attend to share successes and challenges facing the Female game in Cornwall.

This was the 3rd annual meeting which proved to be very productive and pro-active.

It was very apparent that those present were passionate to increase participation and opportunities for the Girls to get involved in the game. The successes were around varied formats of the game and certainly the Futsal break of two months over the Winter enabled the halt of any football and allowed the Girls to enjoy a vibrant indoor atmosphere and more importantly keep playing. It was discussed how 'Chunking Up' the seasons would potentially be beneficial as well as allowing 'on day transfers', 'on day registrations', 'season long signing opportunities' and 'dual signings' to enable the game the flexibility it requires.

Cornwall FA were asked if they could help a group of volunteers implement these changes and indeed a New League to bring together Clubs and Teams with an increased development focus implementing forward thinking initiatives. It was very apparent that this project would need to be immediate and an offer be put together for Female Youth Football in Cornwall.

The Clubs and Teams would like to thank the Kernow Youth League for providing a League last season - however felt that a new direction for a Female only league was sought.

An AGM was called for Monday 29th June and the NEW Cornwall FA Girls Football League was born.

The league will shortly develop its own website through FA Full Time however please see below the elected officers:-

• Chairman - Lee Morford (Bodmin Youth)
• Secretary - Paul Northcott (Charlestown Youth)
• Fixtures and Press Officer -  Shaun Tripconey (Illogan RBL)
• Welfare Officer -  Adam Rowe (Illogan RBL)
• Charter Standard Coordinator - Andrew Plenty (Culdrose Youth)
• Treasurer - Warren Parker (CCFA)

Additional members to the above are on the Management Committee:-

• Jonny Cleaves (Biscovey Youth)
• Roger Hannaford (Helston Youth)
• Jonathan Langton (Wadebridge Youth)
• Lynn Pope (Charlestown Youth)

Girls Football will be offered to the following age groups U10’s, U12’s, U14’s, U16’s & U18’s.

A full calendar will be available shortly plotting out the exciting season ahead, please keep up-to-date on http://www.cornwallfa.com/league/cornwall-fa-girls-football-league

Warren Parker commented ‘this is a really exciting time for Girls to get involved in football locally and with the England Women’s Team having enjoyed so much success at the World Cup and the #WECANPLAY campaign, now is the time to get involved’  

The New Girls League looks forward to working closely with the Cornwall Women's League to make sure that all Initiatives and ideas can be shared to try to make the offer of Female Football in Cornwall a very attractive one.

Edited July 3, 2015 by Dave Deacon