Girls' Football update 2024

Happy New Year to all of our budding, female footballers. 

Before discussing what the year has in store, I would like to thank Sam Tarn for his voluntary role as our Girls' Football Coach. He began working with the pupils in September and due to popularity, was extended into December. He has been an inspiration to many and we thank him for his dedication, commitment and offering his free time over the whole of the autumn term. He has supported the growth of skills, game play and confidence within the game, for all girls involved. Alongside Sam, Charlotte Frazer has been an outstanding sidekick in supporting the younger girls with kit, personal preparation and their ability to believe in themselves. We are lucky to have you both as part of the Southmead PE Team. Thank you.

Moving forward, we still have girls' football happening in the background for the qualifying team that came 1st place in the Braunton Learning Co-Operative Schools' Qualifier back in October. We are currently training with the Year 3 and 4 girls' team, to prepare them for the next qualifier round in February. Sam Tarn has kindly offered to support their progression, with the first training session kicking off last night, even in these freezing cold temperatures. Incredible dedication was seen from the team and we are looking forward to getting them geared up for the next round at Kingsley. It will certainly be a challenge for them all. I would also like to thank the invited Year 5 girls that are part of this training, as they are already pushing and challenging the Year 3 and 4s, which was your purpose. Some really fantastic football witnessed already. I hope you will join us in wishing the Year 3 and 4 team every success in the up and coming competition. In the summer term, we will start opening up girls' football to those interested and look to getting them prepared for the next set of competitions starting again in the new autumn term. We will need to enter a team or two for Years 3 and 4, as well as Years 5 and 6. Exciting times ahead. 

We are also thrilled to be a part of 'International Women's Day', where the Year 3 and 4 girls have been invited to a 'FA Girls' Football Event' in Barnstaple on the 8th March 2024. More details about this will be issued shortly, with a letter asking for parents and carers to 'express an interest' on behalf of their children in the pipeline. 

Following this, we have two Braunton-based competitions coming up at the end of March for Years 3 to 6. Again, further details to follow.

Lastly, could you be our next football coach? Do you have free time to spare to help the growth of girls' football or any other sport? Could you help with an age group alongside Sam or Charlotte. If so, please let the office staff know and we would welcome you onboard to help grow our children into confident, able adults in the future.