Newport Live’s Community Sport & Wellbeing team, in collaboration with Lliswerry Primary School, is thrilled to announce the successful launch of the Primary School Girls Football League, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering and promoting girls' participation in football.
This exciting development is set to transform the landscape of primary school girls' football in Newport by addressing the growing demand for girls' football in the community, as highlighted by recent school sports surveys and local awareness campaigns. Newport Live’s Community Sport & Wellbeing team is equipping participating schools with equipment and resources to establish after-school girls' football clubs. This vital support is geared towards nurturing a love for the game and fostering athletic development among young girls in the community.
As part of the initiative, Newport Live’s Community Sport & Wellbeing team, and Lliswerry Primary School, will organise three football festivals throughout the academic year. These festivals will be a hub of fun, footballing activities, and games, providing a platform for girls to showcase their talents and embrace the joy of the beautiful game. The inaugural festival, held on September 28, 2023, saw 14 primary schools in attendance and a staggering 149 year 5 and 6 girls participating in a day of football-related activities and games.
Brittany Cloke, Community Sport and Physical Activity Development Officer at Newport Live, expressed her joy, saying, "This was our first-ever Primary School Girls' Football League tournament in Newport. It was so lovely to see so many girls representing their schools. I would like to say a massive thank you to the 14 schools and 149 girls who attended the event, as well as Lliswerry Primary School. Without you all, we wouldn't have been able to run such a fantastic tournament. It was lovely to see so many happy faces."
The success of the event was also acknowledged by key partners. Luke Williams, representing the FAW (Football Association of Wales), stated, "It was fantastic to see over 150 girls from 14+ schools attend the first Newport & District Primary School Girls Football Festival at Lliswerry Primary School. All the players had a fantastic time, and it was great to see a genuine collaboration with the FAW, Newport Live, and County In The Community coming together to deliver a great event."
Josh Burns from Lliswerry Primary School shared his perspective, saying, "It was great to see so many girls having the opportunity to experience the world of football in a safe, fun, and happy environment. We are delighted that Lliswerry Primary School has been the centre of this new development and hope it continues to inspire more girls to take up the sport across Newport. We have already seen a huge impact within our setting, and this proves the effect these new opportunities can have in the wider school, community, and across the city itself."
A special highlight of the event was the presence of renowned football figures, Danny Gabbidon and Joe Ledley, who graced the occasion with their signatures, photographs, and the presentation of medals to the girls.
All the girls who partook in the festival were invited to join Newport Live's Girls Huddle session, providing them with further opportunities to engage in football activities. These sessions are free to attend and are open to girls aged 7-11 and are scheduled on Fridays from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at the 3G pitch of the Geraint Thomas Velodrome of Wales. Aside from this, girls interested in joining local football clubs will be guided and supported in their pursuit through a partnership with the Gwent Girls Football League.
The Primary School Girls Football League is a testament to the dedication of Newport Live, Lliswerry Primary School, and their partners, including Sport Wales, FAW, Newport County in the Community, and the Gwent Girls Football League, in providing young girls in Newport with opportunities to shine and grow in the world of football.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lliswerry Primary School for their exceptional support in hosting this successful event. We eagerly anticipate the next festival, scheduled to take place on February 28, 2024, at the 3G Pitch in the Wales National Velodrome.
For further information, please contact Brittany Cloke, Community Sport and Physical Activity Development Officer at Newport Live, at the following email address Brittany.cloke@newportlive.co.uk.
