Denton Girls Football Club have been able to experience a football education trip to Sheffield Wednesday and Hillsborough thanks to a funding partnership that supports youth groups from disadvantaged areas of Greater Manchester.
The Nine Lives Fund, a partnership between Forever Manchester and the Chambers of 9 St. John’s Street, made possible a tour for the girls which involved a visit to the Hillsborough Memorial that displays the names of the 96 fans that died in the 1989 disaster.
The tour also involved looking at the inner workings of the football club and the stadium before visitng the club’s Middlewood training facility and it is has a huge impact on every single player.
James Caldwell, football development officer for Denton Girls FC, said: “All the players got to see the inner workings of a massive football club and the actual facilities that most professional players have access to at that level.
“We’ve already seen the massive impact it has made on the players, with it helping forge better relationships between each other.”
The players took part in several training games on the same facilities that the main team currently train before attending the game against Huddersfield Town at the stadium.
Four squads of players with the youngest being six years old were able to enjoy the unique experience which has and will continue to play an important part in the education and training that will give the girls a great future in football.
Mr Caldwell added: “As a club, we’re committed to providing as much education we can to our players on the opportunities that are available to them within sport.
“The club is providing some of the highest standards of training to provide opportunities for a future in football.”
