THERE’S no stopping Knowle Girls FC Under-11s after they received GIFT Grant funding for kit, development and coaching from healthcare and communications firm Agility Life Sciences.
Knowle FC Ladies started in 2001 and now grown to six teams and a ladies’ team, who have progressed to the 3rd round of the FA Cup this season.
The Under-11s team are newly formed and play in the Central Warwickshire Girls Football League.
Team spokesman Paul Deakin said: “The U11 Hawks were so excited about the news and are really looking forward to wearing a brand-new girls kit.
“We want to offer the best opportunities for our girls and this grant has helped us to provide a comfortable and stylish kit for the new season. The girls are already one nil up!”
The GIFT grant, or Girls In Football Teams grant, is a £500 sponsorship to provide support for women and girls in grassroots football organisations across the UK.
These grants are intended to enable girls and women to learn valuable business skills from football like tenacity, adaptability and graciousness in both victory and defeat, but also to provide inspiration for the next generation.
Claire Thompson, CEO of Agility Life Sciences, said “I played football from five to 40 (with a few injury breaks in between) and it gave me skills for life, not just for sport.
“Women’s sport is very poorly funded, and I want to ensure that girls and women who aspire to be the next Lucy Bronze are not hampered by lack of coaching, equipment or kit.”
