On Sunday 13th October, the Bradford School Games Organisers, The FA, West Riding County FA and the West Riding Girls League partnered to deliver a Talent ID event for year 7 and 8 girls in the Bradford & Calderdale region.   

The event is just one of the ways The FA work with partners in the local communities to identify players to be considered for further support in the Women’s England Talent Pathway, along with several other accessible and inclusive opportunities nationally throughout the year.   

The Bradford & Calderdale region was chosen to ensure that there are opportunities for girls to access the talent pathway in a region which is currently under represented for girls football in comparison with other areas in the county.

The event was attended by over 50 girls with a mixture of those playing club football as well as some who only play football within their school setting.

George Wysocki - School Games Organiser - Aire Valley and West Bradford said: "Girls football within Bradford is growing but the opportunities offered through the school games organisors to engage and inspire girls is vital to this growth development. The school games within Bradford offer girls the opportunity to participate in competitive and non-competitive football events. These events are very popular and have grown over the last year and we are seeing more girls participating in football. The school games events are vital in engaging girls who would not normally have the opportunity to play football. From this we have created links with football clubs and directed parents to them. The growth of girls football and the Barclays Girls' Football School Partnerships have engaged more schools in offering equal access within curriculum and extracurricular for girls. We now find our girls football tournaments are as well attended as the boys.

"In addition to the events, we have a number of secondary girls trained as 'Go Lead' leaders. These leaders' referee and lead at school games events creating positive role models for the primary girls. The girls who have attended these events as leaders have grown in confidence and have gained new skills because of this. The leadership opportunities have enabled secondary girls the opportunity to engage in the organisation and running of events.

"Working alongside the County FA has enabled us to broaden our offer to girls both primary and secondary within our school sports partnerships with the County FA offering free coaching to KS1 girls and linking this in with local clubs.  From this, over 50+ KS1 girls attended a tournament at a local club and a number of them have now signed up to teams. The England Talent ID event that we delivered in partnership with The FA and the West Riding County FA offered girls in our region the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a trial situation with an opportunity to progress further on the England Women’s Talent Pathway  This has further enhanced the promotion of girls football in our region and will hopefully help to continue the growth we have seen recently."

Ellie Tanser – FA Regional Talent ID Coach said: "Within my role as a Talent ID Coach for The FA in the Female Talent Pathway, it is really important that we bring opportunities like this one to the communities to ensure that girls with talent, regardless where they play their football, have the opportunity to be seen and potentially progress on the pathway. It was great to partner up with the County FA and the SGO’s to provide this brilliant opportunity for the young girls in Bradford." 

Russ Clarke – West Riding Girls League Secretary said: "The Talent ID Event attracted many girls from the local area who wished to showcase their skills to the event coaches. It was a great event and judging by the smiles on the faces of all the Yr7 and Yr 8 girls in attendance it was enjoyed by all.  There was talent on show and the event just may of unearthed a future Lioness; at this point we don't know. It is so important that these Talent ID Events are held as it gives girls from all backgrounds the opportunity to be seen and given the opportunity to progress in the England Talent Pathway.  The WRGFL hope that many more Talent ID Events are held in and around the County. We will be there supporting every step of the way."

Steve Conboy – West Riding County FA Football Development Officer said: "We are delighted that The FA have chosen the Bradford and Calderdale area as a focus of Talent ID for girls.  The region is one in which we have delivered specific targeted work in over the last 12 months to assist clubs in creating girls provision so the delivery of a Talent ID event helps to raise the profile of the girls game in the area."