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London City Lionesses has today appointed Shenfield High School, Essex an Official Further Education Partner as they collaborate to deliver an exciting new Girls Football Academy, kicking off for the new academic year.
Female students will now have access to a fulltime programme of professional football training alongside their A-level or BTEC Level 3 studies as London City Lionesses lead on the Girl’s Academy providing a pathway for those who aspire to play at the highest level.
Diane Culligan, Chair of London City Lionesses said “Shenfield has a highly successful football Academy but until now it’s only been available to boys. As London’s first independent professional women’s football club we strive to be a pioneering force for the women’s game especially when it comes to equality and inclusivity. We hope that this fantastic new partnership will be a blueprint for success across a network of programmes throughout London and further afield."
“We have chosen Shenfield High School as our first collaboration as they are already one of the leading girls football schools in the country. Their U13s are national school champions, they are a perfect partner for our new Girls Academy. It’s so important girls, like their male counterparts, have an opportunity to continue their football development alongside their post 16 education and we hope to see them coming through the ranks to join our first team in the future.”
Students in the Academy will have regular interaction with the London City Lionesses first and development team squads, helping them to gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a professional footballer. The team will play under the name London City Lionesses Shenfield (LCL Shenfield) and wear London City Lioness kit as they compete in the English Colleges FA National Premier League.
Garry Sapsford, Director of Sport at Shenfield commented "Shenfield High School are absolutely delighted to offer a unique sixth form football and education programme in partnership with FA Women's Championship side London City Lionesses. This one of a kind programme will provide an exceptional platform for the girls to excel in both football and their studies gaining outstanding guidance from both the Lionesses staff and Shenfield High School.
The majority of places for the new academic year have been allocated pending GCSE results however, there are limited spaces still available on the programme. Anyone interested should complete the expression of interest form or contact Paul Preston at Shenfield High School at p.preston@shenfield.essex.sch.uk
For more information on the partnership, please contact:
Katie Brazier, London City Lionesses – katie.brazier@londoncitylionesses.com 07770 965122
To register an expression of interest for a place in the Girls Football Academy for 2020 or 2021 please complete the expression of interest form or contact:
Paul Preston, Lead Teacher, Shenfield Football Academy - p.preston@shenfield.essex.sch.uk
About London City Lionesses
London City Lionesses is London’s first independent professional Women’s Football Club. They compete in The FA Women’s Championship, the second tier of the women’s domestic game in England.
Home matches are played at Princes Park, Dartford.
The Club’s mission is to lead the social and commercial development of women’s football as it
creates a dynamic global identity in order to better serve young women both on and off the pitch through an environment founded in respect, pride, integrity and teamwork.
In the 2019/20 season London City Lionesses were sitting 4th in the league table as the season was ended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Club ambition to gain promotion to the Barclays FA Women’s Super League remains and next season’s campaign will be led by newly announced First Team Head Coach Lisa Fallon and Assistant Coach Melissa Phillips.
About Shenfield High School
Shenfield High School, Essex provides learning for life and this focus underpins everything the school do. Founded in 1962, the school has a deep-rooted tradition of providing a rounded educational
experience for students. Shenfield High School's
From the start of the 2020/21 academic year, the Shenfield Football Academy, established in 2011, will now offer girls as well as boys a full-time programme over two years of professional football training as well as a full programme of A Level or BTECLevel 3 study.
The Girls Football Academy will build an important new step on the player pathway enhancing the already successful girls football programme at Shenfield. The girls U14s finished as runners-up in the 2018-19 ESFA football competition, with the U13 girls going one better to win the National title with a 4-1 win over Crompton House (Oldham), successfully completing 10 rounds of a 400 school strong competition.
Click the student form below to join London City Lionesses Shenfield Girls Football Academy.
Click the image below for the London City Lionesses Official Further Education Partnership Brochure.
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