Mini footy contest hailed big success
A SUCCESSFUL mini football festival for under-11 girls is just the start of efforts to develop women's soccer through all ages, its organiser hopes.
Aviemore played host to Strathspey Girls FC’s seven-a-side action at the weekend, when around 26 girls from Strathspey Girls and Strathspey Thistle took to the pitch in dismal weather.
And coach Craig Dishington is hopeful of increasing the regularity of such events in Aviemore and the wider Highlands, as part of efforts to develop the game.
Earlier this year he unveiled ambitious plans to establish a "full female section" of Strathspey Girls FC teams from under nines through to seniors within three years.
At the time, he revealed his intention to try to establish an U11s team to "take part in festival matches" after the summer. And the weekend's event was the first of these.
"We decided to hold festival to get some competitive time," he said. "It was a good bit of game time for them.
"Despite terrible weather conditions, they were running round with big smiles on their faces which just shows how much they enjoyed it."
He added that he is hoping to run more festivals in collaboration with similar events so that the youngsters get regular competitive action throughout the year.
Further mini-festivals are in the offing in Inverness and Invergordon in October with two further Scottish Women's Football-organised events in November.
"If we can get two or three times a month then the players' development will come on leaps and bounds," he added. "The girls at training said that there were so many things coming out of [the mini-festival].
"A couple hours of games on a Saturday will help to develop the girls football more," he added, saying that the youngsters had voiced a number of ways they could build on their game as a result of the competitive football they experienced.
Mr Dishington's wider ambition is to have "a full female section from U9s, U11s, U13s, U16s and senior team" within three years.
* For any girls and parents wanting to get involved Mr Dishington can be contacted by email at strathygirlsfc@yahoo.com
