Fleet Ladies receive lottery funding

Monday 10th July 2006

Gravesend & Northfleet Ladies Football Club was formed in 1988 and is a FA Charter Standard Club, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Kent side currently run one women’s team catering for 16+years for players of all experiences and backgrounds and play in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League.

The club finished its first season in that league in third place, having clinched promotion the previous year.

Club spokesperson Tina Martin told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today: “Just like the men, the Fleet Ladies’ side are the second highest league placed team in Kent and have an ambitious and professional set up, whilst maintaining the importance of being a strong team unit and provide a good social programme.

”We are very pleased to continue as the ladies section of Gravesend & Northfleet’s men’s Nationwide Conference side for the coming season.

“We can also announce that this season we are working as part of the very successful youth section at the club, adding a new ladies and girls section to their existing set-up.

”This partnership will see us move to a new home at Fleet Leisure, Nelson Road, Northfleet.”

Gravesend & Northfleet Ladies Football Club run coaching sessions, after school clubs and schools tournaments through their Girls Football Development Programme currently aimed at Girls 7 - 16 years old incorporating all abilities, all schools, and all individuals are welcome.

They will also be supporting the Football in the Communities soccer schools run by Gravesend and Northfleet by providing qualified female coaches and trying to get more girls involved.

The club currently work in partnership with Swan Valley Community School and Northfleet School for Girls and run a Monday night coaching centre 3.30 - 5.30 pm (excluding school holidays).

Tina Martin added: “We intend to start Gravesend & Northfleet girls teams for summer 2006, but you are welcome to join in coaching sessions whether in a club or not, to meet friends and learn new skills with our qualified female coaching team. We have around 50 girls invovled in this session.

“We are delighted to announce that we have received lottery funding this season to support the set up of girls teams and their coaching sessions to the sum of £4,892.00, and we are entering an U11 girls team into the Kent girls league for this season and are currently looking for players to join our existing team with new manager Ben Hall.”

Gravesend and Northfleet Ladies FC have announced their pre season friendly programme for the coming 2006/2007 season.

The ladies team have begun working hard in pre season training in preparation for the coming season and ladies team manager and coach Valter Antunes has selected some testing matches for the Fleet ladies in preparation for their new league campaign in the London and South East Regional League.

They will face five teams in the friendlies all from higher placed leagues, looking forward to the challenge, and with a few new squad additions the ladies team can't wait for the season to get underway.

Matches against Enfield Town ladies, Gillingham ladies, Charlton Athletic Reserves, Dagenham & Redbridge and Colchester ladies, have been pencilled in and venues are to be confirmed.

Tina Martin said: “If you are interested in joining the ladies section please contact the club, we are specifically looking for a centre back, a striker and a goalkeeper to enhance the squad for this season.”

Wanted to support ladies and girls team managers are coaches, admin support, fixtures secretaries, referees and linesmen. All training will be provided.

Gravesend & Northfleet ladies run a coaching and volunteer programme for members which last year saw them fund and support 2 level 1 coaches, 1 level 2 coach, 2 level 3 coaches, with first aid and child protection course to help develop the club.

For further details on the team please use any of the following contact methods. Club contact Tina Martin Ladies Section: 07732 148011 - Club Email: fleet.lfc@blueyonder.co.uk

www.gnfcladies.intheteam.com

Please mention www.kentishfootball.co.uk when contacting the club.