Crosspool Junior FC has developed a unique link with Sheffield Football Club to give our local girls a pathway to a senior team.
Crosspool will become the feeder team for Sheffield FC’s Under 14s and Under 16 teams as part of the initiative, which kicks-off in the new 2007/08 season.
Girls will play for Crosspool from Under 8 to Under 13 and then progress at Under 14 to the world's first football club, with the potential of eventually making it into Sheffield FC’s ladies team.
Graeme Driver, who coaches Sheffield FC’s girls’ U14s and U16s sides, said: “Crosspool Juniors have one of the healthiest and strongest girls sections in South Yorkshire. This perfectly complements Sheffield FC's newly established girls’ squads.
“We hope that Sheffield FC and Crosspool, combined, can become a real force in girls' and women's football. Ultimately we hope to bring these girls through to play for the senior ladies team, who have achieved such strong results in the last two seasons.”
Crosspool chairman Paul Wainwright, added: “We are pleased to develop this link with the oldest football club in the world.
“Girls football is growing more and more popular and this unique partnership can help support the development of our teams. Hopefully this will lead to better players moving up to the regional ladies leagues.”
Last season Crosspool Under 9s enjoyed a 100% winning record in competitive matches winning the A Division title and the Cup for the second year running.
The Under 10s finished 4th in the A Division, level on points with Doncaster Belles and was the only team to beat champions Sheffield Wednesday.
The Under 11s finished 3rd in the A Division behind Sheffield United and Handsworth, while the Under 12s won the A Division title and only lost the Cup Final on penalties.