Study Trip success

Representatives from Moldova, Sweden and Romania recently visited London, as The FA hosted a UEFA Study Visit to give the visiting countries an opportunity to learn more about women's and girls' football in England.

As part of a busy schedule, the visitors were greeted by FA Women's Committee Chair, Sue Hough, followed by The FA's National Women's Football Development Manager Rachel Pavlou, who provided an introduction to women's football in England.

The following day gave the visitors an opportunity to inform The FA delegation how women's football is developed in their own countries. As The FAWSL had just completed the first half of its inaugural season, members of The FAWSL Project Team gave the UEFA contingent an insight into how the league had come into existence and the its structure in England.  Birmingham City Ladies FC also put their thoughts forward to the group about their involvement in The FAWSL from a club perspective. 

Everyone was then taken to the England v Sweden match to see the international team in action - a 2-0 win for England would have perhaps been better received by the home contingent than the Swedish visitors!

A more local approach was demonstrated the following day, as Women's and Girls' Football Development Officers from London, Middlesex and Hertfordshire County FAs gave a presentation on their role and the grassroots approach to developing the women's and girls' game.

The FA's National Project Officer and England U15 Coach Kay Cossington then talked about The FA girls' talent development programme and, fresh from England's victory over Sweden, Hope Powell then joined the group to provide an insight into the international set-up and answer questions from the delegates.

A thoroughly informative few days was concluded with a trip to watch an FA Tesco Skills session involving girls from Middlesex and an FA Centre of Excellence demonstration match between Middlesex and Chelsea. 

And so another UEFA Study Visit packed with information for all participants came to an end with all attendees full of inspiration and ideas on how to drive the women's and girls' game forward in their respective countries.