The WFL (Watford Friendly League) is a football Association and partner with the FA (Football-Association) founded in 1970. WFL provides provision for football opportunities among every town between London, Watford, and St Albans. It consists of both genders from under7s to as old as under18s. They provide on average 200 games per week and around 9000 boys and girls are in this organisation (IV). The facilities improve as the age group increases. Due to the facilities and the cost of renting the pitch there is a joining fee for each team. The joining fee is usually £150-£200. This cost cover paying for hiring pitches, funding the referees each match, cost of kit, training kit and in some cases the cost of the coaches. However this varies with the age group and the division the team is in. The WFL aims to enhance the provision and opportunities as well as increasing the amount of successful home grown players so therefore each season they take one player from each team in under18s and gives them the chance to take part in a “Watford All Star” trial match watched by many scouts and academy managers. My team is Hinton and Finchley and are currently in the Red division (2nd division). The FA aims to provide additional support with adding sponsors to the football kit and paying a certain percentage of the costs.
Schools in the borough offer student in the years of 7-11 have a school football team. They compete with other schools and take part in the borough cup. Depending how good a team is it can go on to take part in the county cup which includes all the best team from each borough. If successful for playing in the school team you would then be offered a chance to play for the borough football team. This would be the first chance playing at elite level [1]. On the other hand Opportunities for football team and playing matches lessen in sixth form.
However for girls it is harder to find opportunities. At my school Hendon during physical education they only get taught football once during the period of 4years. There is no school or borough football team for girls. The park is free of charge if any girls wish to go and practise but as far for teams there is no girl football team at my school; however there are girls amateur leagues in which compete in the Watford’s Women’s Friendly League. This league is only available until the ages of 18 and in rare cases elite teams like Arsenal ladies, spur’s ladies or other teams may scout them.
Disabled football is the primary focus in the UK. There are a variety of professional teams that have disabled foundations set up such as Chelsea and Charlton FC (VII). ‘Football For All’ is a foundation set up by London FA, specifically for player with any disability to play at grassroots across the country. London FA has also set up programmes that open pathway either as a player, coach, ref or administrator. However this programmes is in Fulham and will be far for someone in my area to travel to. Middlesex FA offered disabled player aged 11-18 ‘player development centre’ which is based in Wembley which isn’t too far (XIII). The programme is open to a number of disabilities (3). They also have squads and try outs for a disabled ladies team but it is not as popular. The ‘FA disability coaching’ is set up to enable that the disabled youths are taught more effectively. Schools such as Fortismere School have partnered with ‘Blanch Nevile’ to make a football team for their disabled students (IX). They play and train on weekdays.
In north London there are opportunities such as sporting colleges, such as Southgate College has come together with Tottenham hotspurs and making a football foundation to improve the younger generation in either in leadership role such as coaching or playing football at an elite level (X). They have different level courses and each sport course offers a chance to get a coaching or referee certificate for free.
London FA has set up course on different date and location for coaching and refereeing (XI). The Refereeing courses are available and are sponsored by the UEFA. The course availability varies but some courses are on every 3 months depending on the location and in the summer it is more frequent.
There are vast opportunities available at grassroots and elite level. However football for girls in schools particular Haringey need to develop further. Girls need to have more competitive level chances. There is vast opportunity for leadership roles for girls and boys. For disabled football players there are opportunities and it is continuing to be the main focus by the FA and is increasing the opportunities and course available for them.
Appendix
[1]
(2)
= Closest to Harigney and islington
(3)
Amputee
Cerebral Palsy
Hearing Impaired/Deaf
Learning Disability
Visually Impaired
Bibliography
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amirm261095 (student)
