On the back of the success of the England Women's team in the recent Women’s World Cup in Canada, Hayling St. Andrew's FC has been quick to draw attention to its brand new Girl's football coaching sessions. The girl’s sessions started a few weeks ago. They are held in Mengham Park, Selsmore Lane, Hayling Island. The girls train on Thursdays from 6 - 7:30pm (during the summer) and on Saturdays throughout the year from 9:30 -11.00am.
With the launch of the the girls sessions, they are currently being coached by Portsmouth FC Ladies U13 UEFA B licenced coach Ben Johnson. At this early stage the girls are having fun and enjoying the chance to develop football skills.
Already the Club has 15 boys and girls aged 5 - 7 in its existing junior division which is linked to an AAA Coaching's Soccer Tots program for children aged 2-4 years.
The Club’s currently provides the following football coaching sessions all year round at the times and venues indicated:
- U5-U10s, plus all girls , the boys and girls in the Junior division for children aged 5-7 and the AAA Coaching's Soccer Tots program for children aged 2-4, train at Mengham Park 9:30-11.00 am on Saturday mornings
- U11-U13s train at Hayling Park 9:30-11am on Saturday mornings
With the Club’s commitment to this extensive football coaching programme it is no surprise that the Club has gained the FA Chartered Standard. This FA award means that all Hayling St Andrews FC coaches are DBS checked and qualified to at least FA Coaching Level 1. Many of the Club’s coaches however, have already attained higher level coaching awards.
On the playing side, the Club runs a number of teams. In the 2015/16 season, it is entering eleven boys teams from U8’s to U13’s in the Portsmouth Youth Football League. Following the introduction of the new girl's training sessions, the Club also aims to enter a Hayling St Andrews FC girls team in the girl’s league in the 2016/17 season. The girls coach, Ben Johnson, is in discussions with the Pompey Ladies FC about Hayling St Andrews FC becoming a feeder club for them. In the future this would mean talented girls from the island could join up with the best girl’s footballers in the local area.
For more information about your child getting involved with playing football, email the club at haylingstandrews@gmail.com or just come along to training on a Saturday morning.
