Fochriw Primary School Increase Participation In Girls Football

Fochriw Primary School has increased the levels of participation in girls football throughout their school, thanks to the formation of a new football team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The team at Fochriw Primary School began in the summer of 2015, with 5 girls joining in with the boys after school football club. By summer 2016, a total of 11 girls were regularly attending the club and with popularity increasing, it was decided to set up a girls only club due to so many boys and girls taking part. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the autumn term of 2016, participation rates have continued to increase with 23 girls (74% of female pupils in the school) now attending the after school club to perfect their football skills on a weekly basis. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The team also visited the Cardiff City Women’s Team and were the first team mascots for the club, as well as taking on the role as ball girls for the day. The team received training from the Cardiff City Women’s Team, as well as an excellent write up in the Cardiff City Women’s club programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sharon Pascoe, Head Teacher of Fochriw Primary School said: “Thank you to Fochriw Primary School’s staff, including our very dedicated football coach, Miss Davies, who works hard to ensure that the girls football team receive the same opportunities and coaching offered to the boys. Well done to the team for their fantastic efforts in growing the club from small beginnings to a staggering 23 players”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Derek Havard, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning said: “I have been a supported of ladies football for many years and used to coach my school’s girls team back in the day when not many people approved of such a departure from tradition, unversally accepted nowadays. It is a fine way of keeping fit for both sexes and I wish Fochriw Girls a great future and plenty of goals”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The fantastic success of Fochriw Primary School’s girls football club has encouraged pupils to join a grassroots club and move beyond the club at school to progress their skills and knowledge of the sport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​