There is a clear pathway for girls entering the game, which provides a structure for those who are talented and committed enough to reach the top levels of the game.
National Curriculum/School Teams and Competitions
The FA is working closely with schools to develop more opportunities for girls to play within designated PE lessons. In 2002, a Sport England survey showed that only 13 per cent of girls had access to football coaching in P.E. lessons, yet football is the sport of choice for girls (Youth Sport Trust/Nike study, 2001). 52% of girls have no experience of ever playing football and 331,000 of girls who currently play kick-about football would like to join a football team (FA National Game Strategy Research 2007).
The FA's Football Development teams, which include some specific Education Officers as well as Women's Officers, provide a support network to ensure opportunities are offered, teachers achieve FA curriculum-related qualifications and schools have access to approved equipment. Schools' competitions, leagues and festivals for both primary and secondary aged girls are offered in every County by the Schools Football Associations and County FAs. In addition to this, the ESFA run national competitions for girls of all ages.
FA School-Club Link Programme
The FA School-Club Link Programme is football's commitment to the delivery of the Physical Education and School Sport Club Links (PESSCL) strategy document, which sets out to ensure all children, whatever their circumstances or abilities, should be able to participate in and enjoy physical education and sport.
Through the delivery of The FA National Framework, the project sets out to increase the number of young people playing in FA-accredited Charter Standard or Ability Counts Clubs. It also aims to develop sustainable relationships between schools and local clubs to provide a clear pathway and enable young people the chance to continue their football participation.
This programme has initiated a substantial number of girls-only courses, under the banner of 3 Lions FC, all over the Country. Over 12,500 girls participate in The FA School-Club Link programme every year, with an estimated 300 new teams being created annually.
Grassroots Affiliated Clubs
Primary school aged girls get their first taste of playing club football with Mini-Soccer. The game is played on small pitches with small goals and can be played by mixed or single-gender teams. Once girls reach secondary school age they can then progress onto 9 v 9 or the traditional 11-a-side football. Futsal (FIFA 5-a-side) is also being introduced to girls and women.
County Representative Squads
Essex fields two very strong squads at the Under 14s (school years eight and nine) and Under 16s (years ten and eleven) age groups. Trials take place, ordinarily, within the October Half Term. The Under 14s squad play approximately five fixtures per season between November and April. These are usually arranged to avoid clashes with Centre of Excellence games. Season 2007/08 saw the Essex Under 14s Girls win the SEESFA Trophy for the first time. The Under 16s also compete within a regional competition, which they have won for the past two seasons (2005/06 and 06/07). However, if they are successful within their regional league they are then entered into a national knockout competition. For the last two seasons Essex have been knocked-out by Hampshire in the semi-finals (2005/06) and the quarters (2006/07).
FA Centres of Excellence
There are 52 licensed FA Centres of Excellence in operation across England. These Centres provide weekly quality coaching and a quality fixture programme against the other talented players at neighbouring counties for talented girls from the age of 8-16. The FA provides a substantial grant per season to each Centre to assist with the running of their programmes and gives them a direction. Each Centre is either attached to a County FA, a County Sports Partnership or a men's professional club. Essex County FA's Female Centres of Excellence include Leyton Orient in the London Boroughs and Colchester United for the rest of Essex.
Regional Camps
Regional Camps were introduced this year and Centres of Excellence are asked to nominate five or six of their strongest, most effective players to attend a one-day training camp that's usually set-up at a central location within each region. The morning is spent with players involved in opposed and unopposed sessions. The afternoon is spent with players involved in games. England Scouts assess the players throughout the day.
National Player Development Centre
In 2001, The FA Launched a National Player Development Centre at Loughborough University. This national academy takes applications from approximately 20 players per academic year on a fully-funded football scholarship for up to four years. The Centre is managed by Coach Lois Fidler and provides coaching from Monday-Friday, alongside the players continuing their education.
England Under 23s, 19s, 17s and 15s
There has been a huge success rate of players from the National Player Development Centre representing England from Youth right through to Senior level, notably Casey Stoney, Amanda Barr and, most recently, Karen Carney. Since Hope Powell assumed her position as National Coach in 1998, four England youth teams have been introduced.
The Under 15s side currently meets for training camps and is an early introduction to international exposure. The Under 17s, managed by Lois Fidler, recently reached the final four of the European Under 17s Championship and face France in the semi-final next month (May 2008). FIFA has also recently confirmed they will play in the inaugural Under 17s Women's World Cup in New Zealand later this year. The Under 19s are managed by former England captain Mo Marley and were finalists in the UEFA Women's 2007 Under 19s Championships, losing to Germany 2-0 after extra time. An Under 19s FIFA World Championship is held every two years.
The Under 23s team was launched in 2004 to bring England into line with the leading nations in women's football. England have competed to good effect in the annual Nordic Cup competition alongside the Scandinavian nations, Germany and the USA. The team finished third in 2005 and is managed by Assistant National Coach Brent Hills. The first home international was played in November 2006 and achieved a crowd of 5,000 at Exeter City in a friendly international against France.
England Seniors
The England Senior team is ranked 10th in the world and their best tournament finish was a runners-up spot in the 1984 European Championships. The National Coach is Hope Powell, a former player who amassed 66 caps and scored 33 goals from midfield. Hope hung-up her playing boots when she took over as the first full-time manager (and The FA's first female and first black national coach) in June 1998. She has received an OBE for her services to the game and was the first female coach to earn the UEFA Pro-Licence - the highest football coaching qualification available.