Forest marks the start of The FA’s Girls’ Football Week

Over 60 girls from the Preparatory School took part in Forest’s Festival of Football in the Sports Hall, playing five-a-side matches while receiving expert coaching advice.

Alongside Forest PE teachers, two of the School’s girls’ 1st XI team, Emma and Jess, and the Sylvestrian Leisure Centre’s Deputy Manager Lydia Cooper, who also plays for Leyton Orient Ladies, mentored the girls during the event advising on everything from tactics to technique.

Mr Arnold, who organised the event, said: “All the girls loved playing in the Festival and with their friends. Unfortunately, the weather prevented us from going outside but this didn’t squash the girls’ enthusiasm.”

“We will hopefully be putting on more events like this for our girls in the future.”

The Football Association (FA) hopes the awareness week will inspire more schools to put on fixtures for girls.

Speaking after the event, Director of Sport, Mr Adams said: “Girls’ football is one of the fastest growing sports in England, and with the School’s footballing tradition and historical significance, it is only right that we offer a programme for our girls here at Forest.”

In recent years, women’s football has become incredibly popular, particularly after the England ladies’ team’s third-placed finish at the 2015 FIFA World Cup.

Recent data released from the Independent School’s Football Association has revealed that the number of schools offering football to girls has soared from 12 to 120 in just five years.

Mr Adams added: “We have a number of talented girls who already play football for clubs outside of school and so I am sure it will become a very popular choice with our pupils.”