Page 29 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.34 2022-23

The Electric Ireland Super Schools Tour is returning next week to round off another successful
year of girls’ football competitions in schools. The tour involves a series of seven-a-side regional
tournaments across Northern Ireland.
It was set to kick off at Brook Leisure Centre in Dunmurry - it will cover the Belfast region -
on Monday (22nd May) before moving on to Cookstown’s Mid Ulster Sports Arena the following
day.
Then it’s off to Lurgan Town Arena this Friday (26th May) followed by Coleraine
Showgrounds on 30th May. The final instalment is at the Valley Leisure Centre in Newtownabbey
on 1st June.
In each regional tournament participating schools will play each other in two different age
groups (Year 8/9 and Year 10/11) as they aim for regional glory. Many of last year’s winners will
be returning with the aim of repeating their success.
The two finalists from this year’s inaugural EI-backed Year 8 nine-a-side competition, Kilkeel
High School and Belfast’s Blessed Trinity College, will both be competing at the Valley Leisure
Centre on 1st June.
Damian McLaughlin, Schools and Futsal Officer with the Irish FA Foundation, said: “Last
year’s tour was a great success. The feedback from the schools was really positive with regards to
taking a competition on tour as this allowed schools to compete at venues closer to home.
“At a time when budgets are extremely tight, we felt this was an easy way to support our
schools, who are fantastic at getting involved in our competitions. It is a great way to wrap up the
school year for the girls’ teams.”
The winners of the other Electric Ireland Schools’ Cup competitions for girls’ teams during
the current school year were: Senior Cup (U18) – Holy Cross College Strabane; Junior Cup (U14)
– Edmund Rice College (Glengormley); Year 8 Cup - Kilkeel High School.
(irishfa.com)

Somerset FA are delighted to announce they will be setting up the County’s first Women Walking
Football County wide project, to compliment female only walking football groups which are
growing and developing within Somerset. They are currently out meeting various groups,
detailing plans to host friendly festivals and drive this format of the game forward to support more
women to play the beautiful game.
Walking football in general is thriving in Somerset and currently male and female players can
play together in a mixed environment, however more and more females want to play their own
female game, and we want to support their plans and help shape an exciting new female walking
football project.
The aim is to initially set up a women’s walking football steering group, made up of players,
coaches, interested parties, who want to develop this area of the game. The SFA then want to host
a minimum of two friendly festivals early next season, in what they hope will be a catalyst to
hosting more regular events, with the combination of walking football and social opportunities,
having drinks and refreshments after the games.
For example, footballing friends have forged a group who aim to have a session of playing
games once a month - of an evening during the week - at the YMCA in Taunton, some have played
before but with most new to the sport. It’s all about playing, having fun, enjoying the sport and
there will be lots of friendly people to share the experience with.
If you fancy a kickabout then please contact Jess on (07794) 847108 and they will add you to
the group and arrange the next session. Cost is about £3-4 per person and all abilities welcome
from age 30 upwards.
If there are any new female walking football groups setting up, or you are interested in joining
an existing group or want to start a new group, please don’t hesitate to contact Rachael.lawler-
edwards@somersetfa.com to chat through the different options and support available to you!
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk