U's help spread the word
In celebration of Girls' Football Week, Oxford United Women are putting on a host of fantastic events – and you're invited to join in!The nationwide drive to increase female participation in the sport brought together more than 16,000 girls to play football during last year's event and this year promises to be even better, with a host of activities around Oxfordshire supported by the U's.
Ruth Senior, Female Development Officer at Oxford United said: “We are really excited for Girls' Football Week. It gives us a great opportunity to introduce girls and women to football and also allows the club to showcase everything we are involved in within the community.”
OUWFC captain Kat Nutman added: “Girls' Football Week is a fantastic way to celebrate the fun and success that girls are already achieving in football all over the country, and a great opportunity to encourage others to get involved. I’m really proud of the work Oxford United are doing to support the girls' and women’s game year-round. Girls' Football Week is a perfect time to get involved and try something new.”
It all kicks off this Saturday (April 23rd), when United stars Demi Lambourne and Kat Nutman will be visiting the Summertown Stars football tournament to answer questions, sign autographs and present the trophies.
On Sunday, our women's first team entertain Durham at Northcourt Road, Abingdon in FA Women's Super League 2 (KO 12pm) and we're offering exclusive discounted tickets for Girls' Football Week! Email rsenior@oufc.co.uk for more information. We also welcome our Sister Club Tower Hill for our fantastic matchday experience package, which includes a tour of the changing rooms, a special training session with OUFC coaches, a penalty shoot-out on the pitch at half-time and pictures signed by the team themselves.
On Tuesday, defender Charlie Deeley and midfielder Sophie Baker will visit the Cherwell School tournament for a special Q&A, as well as to sign autographs and hand out awards to pupils from 4 participating schools.
That evening (7-8pm), the OUFC Female Football Development programme are coaching a women-only FREE football fitness sessions in Watlington. Have fun, make friends and get fit – for free! Sophie, an attendee of a recent session, said: “This evening session was brilliant and it seems that every one of us enjoyed it. I look forward to them every week. I couldn't say the same thing of many sports I've done in the past.” The session will take place at the home of Watlington Town FC on Shirburn Road, OX49 5BZ.
Our Sister club Crendon Corinthians are offering another opportunity to get involved the following evening (April 27th) with a girls-only football course. Girls aged 11-15 are invited along for sessions with Oxford United coaches from 6-7pm at the Lord William's astroturf, OX9 3HU.
On Thursday April 28th, Oxford United coaches will deliver girls-only physical literacy sessions at The Dashwood Academy, 3-4pm, working on ABCs and fundamental movements. Kindly funded by SSE in partnership with the Oxfordshire FA and Oxford United.
Meanwhile, in Witney we launch our first ever partnership project with GLL Better Leisure, with a FREE women-only football fitness taster session at the Witney ATP from 7-8pm. It's a great way for beginners to get into football and get fit, while those who complete the 10-week course will also get a free gift!
Finally, on Sunday May 1st, we host Sheffield in WSL 2 at the Northcourt, with Didcot Casuals Youth FC enjoying our fantastic match day experience. Additionally, as part of an ongoing Sister Club partnership between Didcot and OUWFC, coaches from our female football development programme will be going into local schools throughout the week to inspire girls to get involved in Didcot’s “Mini Miss Kickers” Saturday session from 11-12pm, for girls aged 6-11, at the Loyd Recreation Ground Didcot.
Katie Mullis, Sister Club Officer, stated: “Girls' Football Week has given us a great opportunity to kick-start our partnership work with local grassroots clubs. We are really excited to be running the Sister Club programme this year and look forward to working as one to develop female football across Oxfordshire.”