Phoenix Girls U13: Breaking Barriers in Youth Football

Image source, Phoenix Girls U13

Image caption, Goalkeeper, Olivia, Grace and Maisie practise at Bedford Athletic StadiumArticle information

• Author, Alex Pope
• Role, BBC News, Bedfordshire

• 6 minutes ago

A football team became the first all-girl squad to finish top of the table in a youth league.

Phoenix Girls Under-13’s won the M&S Water Services Chiltern Youth Football League which mainly consisted of male teams.

Ciaran Alexander, one of the clubs three coaches, said he thought it was a “good idea to put a girls team in a boys league to increase the development of the girls”.

He said the team, has identical triples in the team, are “not beating boys at their own game, it’s not the boys game anymore, it’s a multi-sex game, it’s everyone’s game”.

Image source, Phoenix Girls U13

Image caption, Identical triples, Lily, the teams top goal scorer, Chloe and Ella, its captain, play together for the team

Head coach, Mr Alexander, said the 18-strong team, started training together in June 2023, and seven players were due to go to academy trials “in the next few weeks”.

The father of two sons, said: “I’ve had experience of working with girls in boys football, but I thought it would be good to put a girls team in a boys’ league to increase the development of the girls.

“It’s been amazing, the girls have progressed so well.

“It shows the girls can compete against the boys.”

Image source, Phoenix Girls U13

Image caption, Jo, whose daughter is part of the team, said they had “battled hard to win every game, despite injuries and broken bones”

Mr Alexander, who is supported by coaches, Michael Taylor and Carl Perri, said the team can play against other boys until they reached the ages of 15 or 16.

“This is a really important window of opportunity for them to develop their game,” he added.

His message to girls was do not “be worried about playing against boys”.

He continued: “Play with freedom, if you enjoy yourselves, you play better football.

“Do not feel restricted, just believe in what you can do.”

Image source, Phoenix Girls U13

Image caption, Ella and Maisie kissed the Chiltern Youth Football League cup

Jo, whose daughter Maisie, 13, is part of the team, said the whole season had “been amazing”.

“They started off really well, they had a bit of a fall, we all thought it was a distant dream, but then they won the last nine games, to get to where they are,” she said.

“They didn’t believe they could do it, but they should never be underestimated.”

Image source, Phoenix Girls U13

Image caption, Out of a squad of 18, 16 of the players all scored goals, with Lily scoring 32 goals, Ciaran said

Coach Alexander said the team “would not have started” without the support of sponsor GI Scaffolding, Gavin Hoyte, and Bedford Athletic Stadium, where they train.

“I now want more girls to get involved and build on our success even further,” he said.

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2024-05-16 05:33:57
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