Women’s football

UEFA WOMEN’S EUROS 2022

Lots of opportunities for women and girls to play football

When Bend it Like Beckham came out 20 years ago, setting Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra on the path to stardom, it was quirky and odd that girls should be not only playing football but succeeding, and mad about the game. How things have changed. LB Hounslow, where the film was made, is hosting UEFA Women’s EURO matches this summer at the Brentford Community Stadium and Hounslow is preparing to welcome the tournament with a big programme of football-based sessions for women and girls across the borough. The tournament kicks off at Old Trafford on Wednesday 6th July, with the final at Wembley on Sunday 31st July. Brentford is hosting four games, on 8th, 12th 16th and 21st July. Hounslow is using its participation in the biggest women’s sports event in Europe as an opportunity to inspire the next generation of players and fans by providing more opportunities for women and girls to play football than ever before. The programme has largely been rolled out through schools but there are a number of clubs which offer girls as well as boys opportunities to play club football or have a kick about just for fun. Kew Park Rangers and Hanwell Town Youth FC have a boys and girls Under 7s Mini Soccer School and teams for girls up to 16 who play on Sundays. Rockslane Chiswick offers mini soccer and mixed football sessions up to 15. Actonians Girls offers just female football up to 16. They play on Saturdays. Sporting Duet at Riverside Drive, Dukes Meadows, W4, offer girls and women’s football up to 18, also on Saturdays. There is women’s recreational football at Gunnersbury Park, including a session specifically for women with disabilities. Street 45 provide fun and informal football sessions are free and available to young people aged 11 to 18, at Heston Leisure Centre. The Indian Gymkhana Football Club in Isleworth has a women’s team and offers football training for girls aged 6+. The UEFA Women’s EUROs 2022 have also created opportunities for women who want to coach and referee football. Middlesex FA delivered a female only referee course at Rectory Park in March, as part of its commitment to supporting female officials and as part of its Women’s Euros 2022 Legacy Plan. There is also 100FC, an award-winning coaching programme for females (16+) across London, run by Amateur FA, London FA and Middlesex FA. Women are supported with their first steps in coaching through funding for qualifications, coaching placements and ongoing coach support through mentoring.

To find out more about any of the programmes and teams mentioned here, Google Women’s EURO 2022 Hounslow Council, which will bring you to the page with all the links for the various organisations involved in girls and women’s football.