HAVE FUN, MAKE FRIENDS, PLAY FOOTBALL. APPLY TO BECOME AN SSE WILDCATS CENTRE IN DURHAM COUNTY.

In March 2017 The FA launched the Strategy for Women’s and Girls’ Football, Game Plan for Growth.

The VISION, whether competitively or recreationally, to be the No1 team sport of choice for every girl and woman in England, creating and delivering a sustainable football offer for 5-11 year old girls, providing opportunities to experience football for the first time in a fun and safe environment.

The SSE Wildcats concept was introduced in 2017 to address the findings that only 3% of all mini-soccer teams cater exclusively for girls and as such only 41% of girls (compared to 95% of boys) under the age of 10 regularly play football. The FA and SSE developed an initiative designed to inspire girls aged between 5-11 to be involved in football. SSE Wildcats Girls’ Football Centres provide girls with regular opportunities to play football and take part in organised sessions in a fun and engaging environment. In 2018, over 800 centres took part, getting over 20,000 girls’ playing football. The FA are now looking for even more organisations to get take part and support their mission to double girls’ participation by 2020.

SSE Wildcats Girls’ Football has been established in partnership with SSE, supporters of girls’ football participation and sponsor of the SSE Women’s FA Cup, with support from UEFA, FIFA and The Youth Sport Trust.

In 2017-18, Durham FA supported the delivery of 28 Wildcat Centres and are looking to introduce further Centres in 2018-19 to further enhance to growth of girls football across Durham County.

Join over 1,000 SSE Wildcats Girls’ Football Centres and inspire 5-11 girls’ years olds to get involved. The aim is simple:

HAVE FUN, MAKE FRIENDS, PLAY FOOTBALL!

How Are SSE Wildcats Centres Run?
Each SSE Wildcats Girls’ Football Centre is run in conjunction with local County FA's utilising qualified coaches and local facilities to offer girls a location nearby where they can get involved.

The sessions take place on a weekly basis, either after school or at weekends, subject to each local organiser. They provide a safe environment where girls who don’t currently play the game can have fun engaging with sport, make new friends, develop fundamental skills, try a variety of sessions and create foundations for a lifelong love of sport.

What Benefits Are There To Being An SSE Wildcats Centre?
Organisations that become an approved SSE Wildcats Centre can access various benefits that include;
• Access to a start up grant of £900
• Centre support to include staff induction training
• FA Coach Mentor support
• Kit and Equipment
• National marketing and branding to support the launch of your centre

What Happens When I Apply?
The application window for organisations who would like to deliver an SSE Wildcats Girls’ Football Centre opens on Thursday 1st November 2018 and will close on Tuesday 4th December 2018.

In the first instance please contact Alysha Cook at Durham FA to confirm your interest in the programme. Once the application window is open on 1st November please submit your application using the link below. Your application will be reviewed and feedback given (where required), before being submitted to the FA for review and approval.

Please note: submitting an application will not guarantee you to become an SSE Wildcats Girls Centre as this is subject to meeting the criteria set by The FA.  Please see below SSE Wildcats Centres Guidance for Applicants 2018/19

Submit Your Application

SSE Wildcats Centres - Guidance for Applicants

If you would like to get involved and become an SSE Wildcats Centre please contact Alysha Cook below;

Get in touch

Alysha Cook
Football Development Officer (Women, Girls & Walking Football)
T: 0191 3872928 (Option 4 then Option 3)
E: Alysha.Cook@DurhamFA.com