Buckley Town announces major commitment to female football

Buckley Town FC have announced an exciting new commitment to female football.

The aim is to eventually form a women’s side for the 2023-24 season.

Female football has seen incredible growth in recent years. In March last year, the FAW reported the female game had grown by 50% since 2016, and despite the impact of Covid, this growth has continued.

While there is still a huge degree of uncertainty surrounding season start dates, Buckley Town Football Club is determined to promote and support the female game.

For season 2021/22 the club’s existing six girls’ teams (ranging from U8 to U13) will grow to at least nine with the addition of U6, U7 & U14 sides.

This growth will be facilitated by three newly-introduced Heads of Phase, providing support to individual age-group coaches.

Bucks have also committed to establishing both a female U19 team, ready to enter competitive football in the 2022/23 season, and a female first team, aiming to launch in 2023/24.

All teams will be supported by, and work within, Town’s club-wide age-specific coaching framework, built by its UEFA-A and -B Licence holders.

BTFC coaches will also provide strength and conditioning, performance analysis, and performance nutrition specific to the female game across all age-groups.

As Buckley continue to improve facilities at The Globe, they will be providing a huge range of contact sessions, including football, conditioning, injury prevention, and analysis, all in-house.

Anyone interested in getting involved as a player or volunteer should drop an email to football @buckleytownfootballclub.co.uk

Commitment to growing participation

• Currently six girls’ teams from U8 to U13
• Going into 2021/22 season, this will grow to at least nine teams from U6 to U14
• Growth will be facilitated by three newly-introduced Heads of Phase, who will also provide support to individual age group coaches
o Head of Foundation Phase (6-10) Tony Howard
o Head of Youth Phase (11-15) Jon Peatfield
o Head of Development Phase (16-19) Graham Hounslow

Commitment to providing a pathway

• Introduce an U19 team, ready to enter competitive football in the 2022/23 season
• Start up a first team, ready to enter competitive football in the 2023/24 season

Commitment to upskilling coaches

• The club currently has seven FAW ‘C’ Certificate holders within our female team structure, and it is committed to hiring or upskilling further coaches to match growth in participation
• BTFC is working towards introducing UEFA B and UEFA A Licence holders into its Youth and Development Phases

Additional club information

• Buckley Town plays in the second tier of Welsh football, the JD Cymru North, in north east Wales.
• BTFC the largest community club in Wales, outside Cardiff.
• Its home ground is The Globe on Globe Way, Buckley, CH7 3LY.
• The club has 400+ players and 100+ volunteers across 16 age groups and 34 teams, playing in leagues across North Wales and beyond.