For FA Girls' Football Week we are profiling a number of female role models with links to women's and girls' grassroots football in the county.  The aim is to inspire more females to take part and get involved in football, outlining the many opportunities in Cheshire.

In this edition we have a Q & A with Jess Jones, an inspirational young women who has progressed through the FA Football Futures programme in Cheshire to become a member of the 2016-17 FA National Game Youth Council (see above right picture).

Jess Jones Q & A

Age: 19 

Roles in the Game:

FA National Game Youth Council Regional Engagement Officer (East Midlands), Cheshire FA Youth Forum Member, Player and Coach.

Q: How did you first get in to coaching?

A: I started coaching when my college teacher told me about an opportunity he had that was paid coaching through the summer with Marple Athletic’s Girls' Development School, from this I then started coaching the girls' team weekly and managing them on match days.

Q: How did you get involved with the Cheshire FA and the FA Football Futures programme?

A: I have had a passion for football for as long as I can remember.  Getting involved with coaching at college was great and lead to me joining The FA Football Futures programme and the Cheshire FA Youth Forum.

Once I knew about the FA Football Futures programme I wanted to get involved with as many coaching hours as possible so I have coached at a range of clubs, ages and genders, such as; Marple Athletic (girls), Stockport County (girls), Poynton FC (boys), Swinton FC (boys) and Primary schools through my University Sports Volunteering Programme. 

I was selected to represent Cheshire FA at the FA National Football Futures Camp in 2015 and then their Leadership Academy in 2016. With hard work, dedication and opportunity searching I found myself in this incredible position. Without football and The FA I would not be who I am today.

Q: Can you tell us about the qualifications you have attained?

A: I gained my FA Level 1 in Coaching at my college within my first year and my FA Level 2 in Leadership in my second, this was put on and funded by the college. 

In my own time I completed my FA Youth Award Module 1 during the summer before University. When I came to University, I received funding to get on courses therefore, within my first year, I did my Junior Football Leaders Award, FA Youth Award Module 2, FA Level 1 in Futsal and FA Level 2 in Coaching.

Q: What are your future ambitions?

A: I am aiming for a career in football or sports development. I would also love to spend time working in the US within the female game.

Q: What advice would you give to young females looking to get involved in the development of football?

A: "Careers, like rockets, don’t always take off on schedule. The key is to keep working the engines".  I find this quote by Gary Sinise so relevant to myself and any young person volunteering in sport hoping that one day they can make it their career, just keep putting passion and enthusiasm in to what you do.

My personal development is very similar to the women's game, over the past couple of years many challenges have been overcome and things previously seen as the impossible have been achieved, but the development doesn't stop there. There is nothing stopping you joining in this development with us. And most importantly don't let anyone say you can't!

Get Involved

For women interested in coaching, refereeing or volunteering you can submit your interest to us and we'll send you relevant information, to do so please click HERE.

If you would like more information about playing in women's or girls' football within Cheshire please download our guide by clicking HERE.