ARTICLE TAKEN FROM THE DORSET FA EZINE.

It was a very early start for the dedicated coaches, players and proud families of the Sturminster Newton United FC Girls on Sunday 20th November 2011. 12 lucky teams from around the country had been chosen for the Grassroots Coaching McDonalds FA Masterclass at Wembley Stadium.

Upon arrival at Wembley Stadium everyone was ushered in to the Bobby Moore suite, the girls shown into the VIP section of course! Eric Harrison, previously coach for Manchester United, started off events, followed by a talk from Sir Geoff Hurst, scorer of the winning goal in the 1966 World Cup. He spent time with all the teams and posed for a team photo. The girls then went out onto the hallowed turf of the Wembley Stadium football pitch for some dedicated training with numerous footballing legends, among them Gareth Southgate, Pat Jennings, Andy Cole, Martin Keown, Dennis Mortimer, Geoff Pike, and former Yeovil Town Manager Steve Rutter. To have specialist training from such celebrated footballers was an experience none of the girls will forget.

After a lunch and question and answer session the girls had a behind the scenes tour of Wembley including posing for photos in the England team dressing room in front of their favourite players shirts, and a team photo with the Charity Shield, and perhaps best of all the famous walk across the stand to hold the FA cup! Sturminster Newton United ‘s youth officer Leon Jennings put the club forward and the girls were all overjoyed at being selected. The popularity of girls’ football is on the increase but is still relatively uncommon and these girls are very keen and work hard to be the best that they can be ably coached by Alan Seldon and Adam Scott.