Pompey Ladies are launching a new football academy for girls.
Starting in time for the next academic year, this will form an integral part of the Blues’ player pathway.
A partnership between the club and Pompey in the Community (PitC), it is targeted at current Year 11 pupils and will offer students the freedom to study for a Level 3 Extended BTEC Diploma in Sports Performance and Excellence at the Study Centre, while representing Pompey Ladies in the National Football Youth League.
The Girls Football Academy will also provide players with a realistic prospect of progressing into the senior set-up of the side, who currently compete in the third tier of women’s football.
Jay Sadler, Pompey Ladies manager and community development officer at PitC, feels the partnership gives local girls a fantastic chance to enrol on a specialised programme.
He said: “The launch of a girls’ academy programme is fantastic news for the club. Now we have a clear pathway from under-10 right through to the first team, with the addition of a specialised BTEC programme.
“It not only echoes the ambition and direction we are going in, but enables girls of all ages to represent this historic club.”
For more details on the BTEC programme, or if you’re looking to enrol, please email at btecgirls@pompeyitc.org.uk
Pompey Ladies will also launch four additional SSE Wildcat Centres in surrounding areas – Fareham, Gosport, Bognor and the Isle of Wight.
This will complement the current centre located in Cowplain. The SSE Wildcats training sessions will offer local girls aged 5-11 regular opportunities to play football and take part in fun and engaging activities created.
This will form part of the Pompey Ladies pathway, with a clear route into the Girls Academy. As of next season, the club will run teams of all ages from U10-U16, before integrating into our BTEC Development Programme, which will run for girls aged 16-19.
Park Community School will host trials on April 9, with U9-U12 from 5.30pm-6.30pm, and U13-U16 from 6.45pm-8pm.
Those interested in attending the trial can book online at www.pompeyitc.co.uk
Form more details, please email paula.taylor@pompeyitc.org.uk or call (023) 9272 8899.