Local schoolgirls to be offered the same opportunities as boys
Following on from our successful involvement in the Football League and FA’s Female Football Development Plan to grow the female game, the Hatters have agreed to establish the club's first dedicated Girls’ Player Development Centre (PDC) in the town in association with Luton Town Ladies FC in a bid to offer schoolgirls the same opportunity currently offered to schoolboys.
Initially, the PDC will aim to:
- Identify and recruit talented and enthusiastic local girls
- Provide quality coaching in a fun and friendly atmosphere
- Provide playing opportunities against other professional club PDCs
The two main objectives of the PDC will be to initially establish four training squads for Under9/10; U11/12; U13/14 and U15/16 and then to eventually provide elite pathways for girls aged 16+ to Luton Town Ladies’ first team and development squads.
Girls currently playing for a local club who are offered a place at the PDC can remain with their local clubs as games for Luton Town FC against other professional club female development squads take place in the school holidays to avoid clashing with weekend club fixtures. Girls not currently playing for a club or who have never played for a club are also more than welcome as there are plans for future playing opportunities with the Ladies’ junior section.
To launch the new Girls’ PDC, the club and Ladies section we will be running a free six-week open training programme for girls currently in school years 3 up to school year 10, and they will take place at Stockwood Park Academy in Rotherham Avenue, Luton every Thursday evening at 7pm to 8pm, beginning this week.
The club’s Community Trust Football Development Officer, James Hatch, said: “It’s an exciting development for us. We aim to offer fun and friendly sessions to give our local girls the best opportunity we can to grow the female game in the county.”
Luton Town Ladies’ first team coach Nikki Baker added: “It’s an important step in improving the playing opportunities for girls in Luton and we hope the PDC will be able to identify future elite first team players for the first team’
If you want to attend our free open sessions during June and July, you can apply for a place by emailing the Community Department at the Club on LTYD@lutontown.co.uk or ring 01582 737568.