Chesterfield F.C.Chesterfield F.C.Girls football is currently reckoned to be the fastest growing sport in this country. In 1997 the Football Association launched the Talent Development Plan for Women's Football containing proposals that represented a major step forward for the female game in England. At the heart of the plan was an aim to develop a structure to nurture elite female talent, and subsequently a network of girls Centres of Excellence based in professional football clubs has been established. Chesterfield FC are proud to be one of the 1st of 18 professional football clubs to be given a license to run a female centre, and in January 1999 appointed Jane Ebbage as the Director of the programme.
The Centre is run from the Youth
Development Office at the Club, and sits alongside a similar, but well
established boys programme.It is now well established in 3 age groups - Under
12, Under 14 and Under 16 - and takes players from an area that covers
Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire. There is also an Under 11
feeder squad which provides weekly coaching to girls aged between the age of 8
and 11 and aims to prepare them for the Under 12 squad.
Chesterfield FC are proud of their girls centre which is currently one of the
most highly regarded programmes in the country and regularly competes on an
equal footing with bigger clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Coventry City. In
less than 2 years many of the Centre's aims have begun to be realised. We have
already produced 2 England U16 internationals, Lizzie Gomersall and Jo Potter
as well as 4 other players who have attended National team training camps. We
are one of only three Centres with a female director and consequently the
coaching is all carried out by staff who are committed to and involved in the
women's game. All work is monitored throughout the year, players are given
regular feedback and coaching is in accordance with a detailed programme that
is tailored to the female game. Staff meet regularly to discuss their players'
progress as well as for their own professional development.
The Centre of Excellence is open to girls who live within an hours drive of
Chesterfield, and given our proximity to the motorway the catchment area
includes the cities of Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield, as well as more local
towns such as Matlock, Alfreton and Dronfield. All players who attend the
Centre must be registered with and playing regularly for an independent team.
Please note that it is not a pre-requisite for players attending the Centre
to sign for Chesterfield FC Ladies.
Looking ahead, the Centre plans to become more involved in the local game.
There is already a thriving junior club in the town, as well as others in
Creswell, Dronfield, Alfreton, and Pinxton. A small sided girls football league
is planned for launch during the 2000/01 season, and the FA, through it's
Regional Development Officer has extensive plans for the expansion and
promotion of girls football in Derbyshire.
If you want further information why not contact us
The Youth Development Office
Chesterfield Football Club, The Recreation Ground, Saltergate, Chesterfield,
Derbyshire. S440 4SX
Tel: 01246 237160 or why not email 
