An event aiming to tackle girls' football dropout rates is set to take place in Worcester.
Worcester City Women FC and Talent Pathway Solutions have teamed up to support the development of girls' football in the county.
The event will focus on the 15 to 17-year-old age group, which has faced challenges such as team dissolutions due to a lack of league options in the area.
Read more: Worcester Warriors bosses speak on planned Sixways revamp
As a result, many players have either had to travel outside the county to continue playing or have been left with limited opportunities.
The aim of the event is to inspire positive change within the Worcestershire football community.
Grassroots clubs, sports organisations, and girls in the age group, both current players and those who have recently stepped away from football, are all invited to participate.
The event is free, and all attendees will receive a complimentary ticket to watch the Worcester City Women FC First Team play against Boldmere St Michaels at 2pm.
The event programme includes networking opportunities, a welcome address from club owner Nicole Allison, and two interactive workshops.
The players' workshop will involve discussions with current Worcester City Women players about passion for football, maintaining engagement, and the opportunities available both on and off the pitch.
The organisers' workshop will focus on exploring challenges faced by grassroots clubs and sports organisations working with girls in the age group.
The insights gathered from these workshops will be used to shape the future of girls' football in Worcestershire.
The clubs and organisations working with younger age groups will have future engagement opportunities.
The aim is to ensure young female footballers have the development opportunities they need to thrive.
The event is part of the club’s broader commitment to advancing women’s and girls' football at all levels.
Talent Pathway Solutions founder Chris Gould will help lead the mission.
He has extensive experience in talent development, having worked with Birmingham City Regional Talent Centre and Tottenham Hotspur Women as the Girls' Talent Pathway Manager.
The interactive event will be held on Sunday, October 6, at Sixways Stadium, from 12pm to 1.30pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here