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Primary Schools Inspired by the Lionesses

Across Merseyside, schoolgirls have been inspired by England’s Lionesses in the Women’s European Championship, with many participating in...
The team at Walton Hall Park delivered six women’s Euro 2017 themed Girls’ Primary School Festivals in the build-up to England’s opening game against Scotland; in partnership with School Games Organisers in Knowsley, North Sefton, South Sefton, Liverpool and St Helens, as well as Wildcats Girls Football Club, Formby Junior Sports Club.

In these festivals, schools have been given a country to represent, along with their country’s flag.

An incredible 84 school teams have participated in the festivals, ranging from school Years 1 through to 6, which has resulted in an amazing 789 girls, aged between 6 and 11 years, playing football in activity that forms part of Girls’ Football Week.

Having enjoyed their day of football, schools also sent messages of support to Mark Sampson’s Lionesses in Holland, which can be viewed at the video below.



In addition, each player signed an England flag, which was sent to the England team prior to their departure to the Netherlands.

Anna Farrell, Football Development Officer at Liverpool County FA, said: “We’ve been delivering Girls School Festivals in both primary and secondary schools since September, in partnership with our local School Games Organisers, and they have been a huge success, with over 240 school teams participating and 2,224 girls playing.

“With the women’s Euros and Girls’ Football Week, we thought we would capitilise on the opportunity to deliver more Primary School Football Festivals – and they’ve been fantastic. Schools and girls came with faces painted, had their hair coloured, made their own flags, sent support to the Lionesses and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. That’s our ultimate aim; we want girls to enjoy playing football and to have fun.”

All girls participating received details of their local grassroots club and how to join, so that they may continue their football away from the festivals. The girls also all received medals, whilst participants in St Helens, Liverpool and North Sefton also received Lionesses water bottles and hairbands.

The school programme is set to continue into the 2017/18 academic year.

For any information relating to girls’ football in Merseyside, please contact Anna Farrell, via anna.farrell@liverpoolfa.com or  0151 523 4488 (Ext. 110).

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