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GIRLS HUSH-UP FOR THE CUP! Football crazy girls from the City Technology College U16 team "zipped it" with England Women U19 players Kate Ward and Michelle Hickmott; whilst players from Aston Villa and Birmingham City Ladies' wasted no time in getting their hands on a brand new piece of silverware! They were all lending their support to the brand new cup competition launched by the Birmingham County Football Association and Macmillan Cancer Relief which will provide competitive football for an ever-increasing number of girls taking up the sport throughout The Black Country, Birmingham and Coventry. The BCFA Girls Challenge Cup - kindly donated to the BCFA by Vesey - awaits the eventual winners of the competition, but teams involved are being given another chance to win, with "The Macmillan Charity Challenge" Trophy on offer to the side who raise most money for cancer patients and their families in the Birmingham County area. To kick off the fundraising all 8 sides are being invited to "zip it" for Macmillan's national "Hold Your Tongue" Challenge in March. The 10 minute sponsored silence is just one of the ways in which it is hoped that the teams will raise money: "Working with a high profile charity like Macmillan gives us the perfect opportunity to highlight girls football and hopefully attract even more into playing," added Dave Shelton, BCFA County Secretary. "We try to emphasise the way in which taking up football at an early age can be fun as well as it helping to keep you fit. This fits in with a lot of what Macmillan's work is all about, so it is fantastic that we can work together to get the message across!" "We want as many teams as possible to "zip-it" and help raise funds for the important work we do to help people living with cancer," said Marilyn Meade-Brown, Community Fundraising Manager for Macmillan in Birmingham. If you are part of a football team, organisation or are an individual interested in getting involved with fundraising for Macmillan, call 0121 236 3099 for more information. GIRLS HEAD FOR NORTH V SOUTH FINAL Over 80 football crazy girls will be taking part in the deciding round of the North Birmingham Schools League on Wednesday 16th January, in the first competition of its kind in the UK. Birmingham County FA and the City Council teamed up to provide a competition for U12 girls as part of the Active Sports Initiative - which proved so popular, they ended up with two! The winners of Wednesday's Northern Final will meet the winners of the equally popular Southern Final, which takes place later this month. "The league has really caught the imagination of schools throughout Birmingham who until now have suffered from a lack of competitive football at this level," said BCFA Girls' & Women's Football Development Officer, Rachel Dunlop. Alongside the 8 teams who will take part in league fixtures on the night, 17 other schools will be attending the event to take part in friendly games. These teams have already booked their places in the second phase of competitions when the league begins again at the end of February. Football is fast becoming the most popular sport for girls in the country - hot on the heels of Netball. Birmingham County FA's Football Development Team are helping to increase participation levels, which includes working with schools and providing more opportunities for all. "The next competition includes the chance to qualify for the 2002 Youth Games," added Rachel. "So it's not surprising that more and more schools want to get involved!" The first games kick off at Birmingham Powerleague at 4pm, with plenty of support anticipated for the schools involved! FA AXA Premier League Cup Semi Final A Katy Ward hat-trick helped Birmingham to a shock 4-3 victory over Doncaster Belles on Sunday in the AXA FA Women's Premier League Cup In a thrilling game at Brodsworth Welfare the Belles went into the break 3-2 ahead thanks to goals from Jody Handley, Melanie Garside and Michelle Barr - while Ward kept her side in it with two superb strikes After the break the Northern Division side threw everything at their National Division opponents and drew level thanks to Jody McGuckin - before Ward's third goal sent the Midlanders into the final where they will face either Fulham or Arsenal Karen Burke had an outstanding game for the Belles and was involved in all three of their goals as her pinpoint crosses and corner kicks put pressure on the young Birmingham side. Belles went ahead after only seven minutes when Handley rifled the ball into the top left-hand corner after striker Karen Walker had headed onto the crossbar. But Birmingham were far from daunted and Ward equalised on 10 minutes when a defensive blunder by Belles put her clear and goalkeeper Leanne Hall had no chance. Belles took the lead a minute later when a cross from Burke was headed home by Garside. Barr then added the third on 19 minutes with a glancing header. Birmingham's heads began to drop and the Belles stayed camped in their half as Burke peppered their goal with cross after cross. But the experienced Yorkshire side just could not convert pressure into goals and Burke hit the crossbar with a free-kick, while Walker hit two possible chances straight to Birmingham keeper Melanie Ramsdale. Then against the run of play Ward put her side right back in contention two minutes before the break. McGuckin got possession just outside the area, beat two defenders and as Hall rushed towards her, slipped the ball to Ward, who turned and slammed the ball into the back of the open goal. Birmingham started the second half much brighter than they had the first but were lucky to draw level on 64 minutes as McGuckin scrambled the ball home from close range. This seemed to inspire the visitors and coupled with an outstanding second-half performance from keeper Ramsdale, they took the lead when Ward floated a free-kick into the top left-hand corner with 20 minutes to go. Belles fought back strongly but Ramsdale pulled off an impressive one-handed save to deny Walker then punched the ball clear from a Vicky Exley strike to ensure her side made it to their first-ever major cup final. Women Only: That's Official! England's top female referees will be helping the Birmingham County Football Association encourage more women to "take up the whistle" at a special Recruitment Seminar - by keeping the men out! Women over the age of 14 are invited to join FA Barclaycard Premiership Assistant Referee, Wendy Toms and her female colleagues at BCFA HQ, Ray Hall Lane, Great Barr on Wednesday 30th January for an evening which aims to take away the barriers preventing more women from getting involved in officiating. Toms, Janie Frampton and Amy Raynor have all made it into the realms of refereeing normally inhabited by men-only. The trio will be offering advice and guidance on how and why they became referees and the benefits it affords - not only to the individual, but to clubs and to the game of football - locally, nationally and even internationally. Janie Frampton combines her refereeing in the Women's Premier League with responsibilities as the FA Regional Manager for Referees in the South of England: "It's no secret that the game of football needs more referees - particularly at grassroots level," she said. "However, the opportunities for female referees to climb the promotion ladder are greater than ever - the chance to become an official at International level is an attainable ambition for those who have enough drive and ability." As West Midlands' Regional Manager for Referees, Ray Olivier is one of the few men who will be allowed to attend! "We want to make sure the increase in numbers of women playing football is mirrored in the numbers officiating," he said. "Training and support for referees is better than ever - we can provide opportunities for everyone who has a desire to get involved with beautiful game and the seminar will prove that's the case for men and women." The evening kicks off at 7.30pm on Weds 30th Jan and includes a buffet and prize draw for all who attend. Although tickets are free, they are limited and must be booked in advance by contacting The BCFA on 0121 357 4278. |