Marlborough Youth Football Clubs strong community partnerships and sustainable approach to delivering Weetabix Wildcats provides the perfect opportunity for young girls in the area to start playing football and develop their skills.

The club launched their Wildcats sessions over 3 years ago and have created a fun and welcoming environment for girls from the area to enjoy weekly football sessions. Many girls are introduced to the Marlborough Youth Wildcats programme through working in close partnership with several local schools in the area, one of which being Marlborough St Mary’s Primary School. Along with other local schools, Marlborough Youth Wildcats coaches deliver Wildcats taster sessions at Marlborough St Mary’s which has helped drive the recruitment of new players to the club.

Rachel, PE coordinator at Marlborough St Mary’s said: “We have a fantastic relationship with Marlborough Youth FC where they run football sessions with our Year 2 girls each year. Having them come into school gives all our girls the experience of trying football out and gives them a direct link to a local club where they can continue to develop their skills make new friendships and keep active. Every year we have a significant number of girls join the club and we have benefitted from this as a school as every year group now has a strong cohort of girl footballers which helps too promote female participation in sport further. This year our Y5/6 Girls’ football team made the School Games County Finals which is a fantastic achievement.”

Time invested into the programme by volunteers has been a huge contributing factor to the success of Marlborough Youth Wildcats. The club runs a successful coach and volunteer’s recruitment programme giving opportunities to step over the side-lines and support the development of players. 

Wildcats Coordinator John Whitehead, added “Our coaches and volunteers are fantastic role models, they help to inspire the next generation of girls’ footballers in Marlborough”

For more information about Weetabix Wildcats contact Ashley.Cornick@WiltshireFA.com