7 minute read
Premier league
England Youth Coach and Football Pathway Manager at St Joseph’s College in Ipswich, Paige Shorten, explains what football coming home means for the women’s game, and how the school is helping the next generation of Lionesses reach their potential
The Lionesses’ Euros glory at Wembley this summer has put women’s football rmly in the limelight, spurring a new generation of girls to lace up their boots and get out on the training pitch.
At St Joseph’s it already takes centre stage, with its star players going on to compete in both league and international competitions. e school has partnered with Ipswich Town FC Women since 2018, establishing itself as a bastion for the girls’ game in the UK. As of this term, I’m St Joseph’s Football Pathway Manager, as it aims to cement its reputation as the premier school for the sport in this country.
At St Joseph’s College, we want to lead the charge for women’s football – and have already had huge success, with many former students now playing at the top level of the sport. Along with myself, the girls are taught by former “Tractor Boy” (Ipswich Town’s nickname) and current Colchester United mid elder Cole Skuse, who took up the role of Head Coach this September. e college’s scholarship programme has so far supported and developed several international and rst-team Ipswich Town FC players through its dual-career partnership.
St Jo’s students Summer Hughes and Sarah Brasero featured live on the BBC during Ipswich’s FA Cup quarter- nal match against West Ham in March, alongside former pupils including Maddie Biggs and Anna Grey.
Pitch perfect
I joined the school in 2021 initially as a coach and want to see St Jo’s become the top school in the country for women’s football.
We want to see shirts on the wall from all of the di erent clubs and international squads our girls play for, creating a footballing legacy the girls can look up to.
Our ambition is to see our students playing to the very best standard, playing attractive football and for other teams to look forward to playing both our male and female squads.
With regards to the female game, the ultimate aim is to have the most progressive female football programme in the country, and I
Women’s football in the UK enjoyed a huge boost this summer when England won the women’s Euros
St Joseph’s College is investing in becoming the UK’s foremost school for girls’ football
The school is aiming to open up all aspects of the game to pupils, including coaching and refereeing courses
would say we’re not far o achieving that.
I’ve been amazed at the growth of the women’s game in recent years – and St Jo’s is at the forefront of developing the very best up-and-coming talent.
I was lucky enough to attend the Women’s Euros Final at Wembley and watch the Lionesses make history, inspiring the country with a special group of players and sta .
Women’s football is growing fast, and the recent Euros success has really put it rmly in the public eye. And watching the sport develop in the local region has been brilliant. is has permeated through the age groups at St Joseph’s, where our girls are getting into the game at a younger age and developing into rounded players with technical, tactical, social, physical and psychological attributes.
We’re now seeing women’s football xtures on mainstream TV, and vast stadiums packed with fans. e sport is taking o and it’s truly wonderful to see.
For us as a college, we want to take the lead in building the women’s game from its grass roots, by building more local partnerships and outreach work to encourage and complement the growth of the sport.
The home game
Students on the Ipswich Town scholarship programme continue to train and play for Town, while receiving a top-quality education both on and o the pitch.
Professional football player Cole Skuse is at the school every day, training on and overseeing both the girls and boys’ programmes. He does this while he continues to play as a professional, so he has a wealth of experience and footballing knowledge to share.
He has huge, invaluable experience on the pitch – I don’t think there’s anywhere else in the country with such care, desire and high standards to get the best out of our students.
Seeing former St Jo’s students playing for Ipswich Town, in televised games like the West Ham FA Cup quarter- nal, is such an inspiration to the girls and the Lionesses’ Euros glory has really cemented that.
We want our students to build on that success and become role models to other girls coming into the game. We want to be at the forefront of women’s football in English school competitions and sports colleges.
We also want to o er coaching and refereeing courses at the school, opening up all aspects of the sport to our students.
It would be amazing to see our former students both playing professionally and coaching the next generation of female football players, continuing the sport’s momentum.
The school’s scholarship programme has enabled the development of many international and Ipswich Town first-team players
St Jo’s girls are getting into the game at a younger age now
Cole Skuse trains both the girls’ and boys’ football programmes while still playing for Colchester United
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