A collection of Brentford Women’s First and B Team players paid a visit to the last Girls Football Development session of the academic year. Following on from Brentford Women’s successful double promotion seasons, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the female teams. Brentford FC Community Sports Trust had the opportunity to welcome the players to the new Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub and the Girls Football Development Centre.

Chelsey Logan, Brentford FC Women’s player, said: "It is great to see how much female football is growing and developing especially in our local community. It’s clear to see that all of the coaches at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust are doing an amazing job at developing these girls into hopefully one day professional footballers.”

Participants had the opportunity to ask the players a number of questions ranging from who are their footballing idols, to what barriers they have faced when playing football. The players highlighted that the lack of girl’s football teams and coaching sessions had an impact on their development growing up. The Girls Football Development Centres take place at Gunnerbsury Park Sports Hub and Springwest Academy, welcoming over 100 participants each week.

Ogechi Anokwuru a new addition to Brentford FC Women’s this season highlighted the value of our Girls Development Centre. She said: “It was great to see so many girls interested in football and have love for the game. It’s what is needed to progress female football.”

Amber Lloyd, Brentford Women’s player and Head of girls’ football development at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, spoke about the programme and the benefits of these events. She said: “The event went really well, both the girls and the womens’ players said they loved it! I have had a number of parents email me stating how much their daughters enjoyed the session and asked when the players will be visiting next! Our development centre is constantly growing, and we want to ensure that girls can access football from a young age and events like this will hopefully give the girls something to aim for and provide them with some new footballing role models.”

See more about the event and how to take part here.