Wiltshire County FA were awarded a licence by the Football Association (The FA) to commence a Centre of Excellence for Girls at the start of the 2008/09 playing season. After undergoing a drastic change and relocating to a training base in Swindon, a recent FA Technical visit and Assessment in January 2010 has confirmed that the Centre is now beginning to produce some good female players at the Wiltshire Centre.
As part of The FA’s ongoing long-term player development strategy, a recent visit was made to the Girls Centre of Excellence by The FA on Tuesday 19 January 2010 to assess the Centre’s Technical development programme. The outcome of this Technical visit was that the Wiltshire Centre has continued in raising standards.
A traffic light marking system is in place for each assessment (Red, Amber, Green) and the Wiltshire Centre of Excellence were awarded mainly ‘Green’ marks, with nil ‘Red’ marks being recorded within the overall Technical assessment.
FA Regional Assessor, Alan Gillett, commented “ I think you have laid the Foundations for a successful Centre, and the quality of the Girls is improving”.
The Centre of Excellence for Girls football in Wiltshire is committed to development of players and enhancing player performance standards in English female football.
Barry Pocock, Centre Director, is naturally delighted with the outcome of the recent FA Assessment. “Several Under 14’s and under 16’s players at the Centre attended South West Regional Trials earlier in the season and, one particular under 14’s player is currently being tracked and monitored by England Scouts at present. We have also had 6 additional girls from the Centre selected to represent Wiltshire County under 18’s team this season”.
“It is pleasing, especially as a Director, to receive such an Assessment and this is very good news for all Coaching Staff and other hard working members at Wiltshire County FA”.
In supporting female footballers in the County of Wiltshire, at and above a local level, Wiltshire County FA Centre of Excellence for Girls offers the only route for talented and gifted female footballers in the County to represent their Country at under 15 and under 17 years of age.
If you are female and eligible for under 10, under 12, under 14 or under 16 squad age groups (age qualifying date is 1st September each year) and you are interested in attending a trial at Wiltshire County FA Centre of Excellence for Girls, please register your interest by contacting Kate Kelly at the Wiltshire County FA Office on 01793 486047 or via e-mail Kate.Kelly@wiltshirefa.com