MP visit

Local MP's champions girls' grassroots football as part of The FA's #FootballFootprint campaign

Local MPs Alison McGovern and Margaret Greenwood visited the brand new Wirral Girls’ Football League
  • Local MPs Alison McGovern and Margaret Greenwood visited the brand new Wirral Girls’ Football League as part of The Football Association’s #FootballFootprint Campaign
  • Alison and Margaret both received a Grassroots Champion award from the Cheshire FA to recognise their support for the grassroots game in the local area

Alison McGovern, MP for Wirral South, and Margaret Greenwood, MP for Wirral West, visited a training session with the Cheshire Girls’ Football League, Wirral Division to learn more about how The FA and Cheshire County FA investments are widening grassroots participation, supporting player development and improving facilities in the local community.

During the visit, the MPs met with budding young footballers from the league, which is for girls aged between 7-16, at the state of the art 3G pitch at Pensby High School, as well as some of the dedicated staff and volunteers who keep the grassroots game going each week.

In recognition of their support for grassroots football in Cheshire, Cameron Foster, Senior Football Development Officer at the Cheshire FA, presented Alison and Margaret with The FA’s Grassroots Champion award.

This visit is part of the new #FootballFootprint Campaign which is being run by The FA, the not-for-profit national governing body for the game in England, in conjunction with local County FAs. The campaign is giving MPs an opportunity to meet with the army of workers and volunteers that make grassroots football possible at a local level and to visit showcase sites, initiatives and matches.

MP visit

Alison McGovern MP said:

“I was honoured to receive The FA’s Grassroots Champion award as part of their #FootballFootprint campaign.On the eve of International Women’s Day, it was fantastic to see so many brilliant young women taking advantage of the excellent facilities here in Cheshire. Investment in grassroots sport for females of all ages and abilities is absolutely essential – it helps with health and well-being, nurtures talent and most importantly, it brings us together.”

Margaret Greenwood MP said:

“It was fantastic to see so many girls playing football at the event. I was really impressed with the skill level of the under-7s through to the teenagers. It was a real pleasure to meet some of the players after the session, along with the staff and volunteers who do such a great job in keeping the grassroots game going here in Wirral. Football is a great game for girls and women, and it’s important opportunities are made available for people to get involved. The work that The FA and Cheshire FA are doing to widen participation, support player development and improve facilities locally is excellent and I’m proud to support them as they continue their great work.”

Cameron Foster, Senior Football Development Officer at the Cheshire FA, said:

“The Cheshire FA set out to double the number of females taking part in football by 2020 and we were delighted to show Alison and Margaret some of the work being done across the county to meet that target; creating opportunities for girls to play competitive, fun football at a quality venue in a positive environment. And it’s not just about the players, the Wirral Girls’ League also supports a number of female referees and coaches and if it wasn’t for the volunteers who run the league and clubs it wouldn’t happen so we were thrilled to participate in the FA’s #FootballFootprint campaign to champion their hard work and dedication to the game.”

football footprint