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Female Football Development celebrated at Dagenham

Exhibition

A presentation on the modern development of the local female football pathway was shared by the Essex County FA recently as part of an exhibition in Dagenham to celebrate March’s Women’s History Month.  

The groundbreaking ‘Sterling Ladies FC to the Lionesses: The Legacy of the Dagenham Invincibles of WWI’ exhibition at Valence House in Becontree Avenue commemorated over a century of pioneering women’s footballers, curated by football historian Steve Bolton, with support from Dr Alex Alexandrou of the Football and War Network.

It featured unique and rare historical memorabilia, artefacts and images, highlighting the very latest local initiatives to promote football diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity. Women’s football grew in popularity across the UK during World War I, and the exhibition explored historic attitudes to women in football, enabling reflection and the opportunity to examine the ideas of where it is now.

Included in the County FA’s presentation were details on the Wildcats and Squad Girls participation programmes, details of the Barking & Dagenham Primary Schools Football Association and the Barclays Girls’ Football School Partnership’s ‘Biggest Ever Football Session’. Information was also shared about the structure and growth in the number of girls’ teams in recent years.

There was an update on ‘Just Play’ Centres in Essex, Walking Football and open-age and schools structures. The emergence of notable players Charlotte Fleming, Molly Bartrip and Lotte Wubben-Moy through the local pathway was detailed, and there was a tribute to the staff and volunteers who provide the opportunity for girls to experience football and create long-lasting memories.

The exhibition was featured in Mirror newspaper articles, as well as on the Havering Daily website, plus the Leader and Deputy Leader of the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Council were in attendance. Some of the exhibition will now also be showcased at the BBC Essex Women’s Cup Final on Thursday 10th April at Colchester United FC.

Emma Burden, Essex County FA Football Development Officer, commented: “What a great exhibition! There was so much content, and some reals gems of history. We were delighted with how our presentation was displayed, giving real context to the greater picture of what is being developed in the modern day to continue the promotion of the women’s game.”

If you’d like to take part in football in Essex, visit www.essexfa.com to find out about the latest opportunities. You can also follow the Essex County FA on social media.

Photos courtesy of www.essexfa.com