A PIONEERING women’s football club in Rugby is hoping to encourage more girls into football as a result of a new sponsorship.
Rugby Borough Women’s FC has signed up energy provider E.ON as its official training-wear sponsor – and as a partner in a campaign to inspire more girls and young women to take up the sport.
The company has added its logo to the women’s first-team training kit, and is investing into the club’s education programme to provide more opportunities for girls to start playing football.
As part of their grassroots education programme, the club – the only professional women’s football club in Warwickshire – engages in a number of school and community activities across the Coventry and Warwickshire area to encourage more girls to take part in football.
The support of E.ON will allow the club to expand and reach out to more primary schools in the area.
Jack Heaselden, General Manager at Rugby Borough Women, said: “For a club of our size to be able to attract E.ON to partner with us is a huge boost and hopefully demonstrates our intentions.
“I am really looking forward to working with them going forward and very grateful that we will get the opportunity through Katy Morris, our Community Officer, to provide some fantastic opportunities across Coventry and Warwickshire.
“Our USP is that our staff are first team players as well, which helps create a real connection, as girls can see them in action on the pitch.”
Scott Somerville, Chief Marketing Officer of E.ON UK, said: “Our activities in the community aim to inspire people in opening new careers and opportunities for all.
“Football often sits at the heart of communities and can inspire people both on the pitch and in their daily lives. That’s why it means so much for us work alongside Rugby Borough Women’s FC and we hope it’ll benefit both organisations and many more beyond.”
The FA National League South team is the only professional women’s football club in Warwickshire, competing in the third tier of the English women’s football pyramid.
The club is home to a number of age group teams who train at the new £2.5million ground in Kilsby Lane, one of the leading girls football facilities in the UK.
Katy Morris leads training sessions for primary school pupils.
AS well as playing in central midfield for Rugby Borough Women, Katy Morris is also the club’s Community Officer and leads football sessions for primary school pupils across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Her role in the community has seen her work with hundreds of girls in recent years to help them grow their confidence and improve their football skills.
She said: “For me, growing up, there weren’t many female football players to look up to. Being able to see more girls and women playing football and giving children in our community the opportunity to come down at the weekend and see all the women’s teams playing is a real privilege.
“I take the girls through drills covering different technical skills, and end the session with a match – to give them an opportunity to put their practice into a game. A lot of the girls I’ve worked with train and play for one of our girls’ teams and often come along to the first team’s home games.
“The kids love taking part in our community sessions, and receiving coaching from female players really gives the girls a role model to aspire to.
“Having this sponsorship from E.ON will help us reach more schools and deliver more specific training in the area, hopefully encouraging more girls into the sport.
“Their support has allowed me to start our new ‘skills centre’ alongside our existing community programme, which will be delivered to schools across the local area. This is a really exciting project for us to encourage as many girls as we can to start playing football.
“It’s a real privilege for me to be a part of the community team and to inspire the next generation of girls into football. I feel really proud to work with these girls and hope they can look up to me and see that a career in women’s football is really possible.
“It’s all about creating more chances for girls to fall in love with the game and chase their football dreams.”
