LOCAL MP AND MEMBER OF THE WOMEN AND EQUALITIES SELECT COMMITTEE EDDIE HUGHES VISITS AN SSE WILDCATS GIRLS FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

Eddie Hughes, MP for Walsall North, spent the morning with the Staffordshire FA and The FA to learn more about the work going into widening participation and improving grassroots facilities in Walsall.

During his visit, Eddie, who is also a member of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, cheered on an SSE Wildcats Girls Football festival hosted by the Staffordshire FA and Sporting Khalsa FC and learnt about the impact that investment in women and girls’ football is having on opening up the game for all. Over 50 girls from across four local clubs took part in the festival to show off skills that rivalled the England Lionesses.

The SSE Wildcats Girls Football Clubs programme is an initiative launched by The FA and SSE that aims to provide girls aged 5-11 with regular opportunities to play football and take part in organised sessions in a fun and engaging environment. Since its launch in 2017, 200 clubs have been established across England.

To recognise his support for grassroots football in Walsall, Staffordshire FA, presented Eddie with The FA’s Grassroots Champion award.

This visit is part of the new #FootballFootprint campaign that is being run by The FA, the not-for- profit national governing body for football 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.

Eddie Hughes MP said: “It was great to have the opportunity to see how The FA and Staffordshire FA are working to increase the opportunities for girls to have a positive experience of football from an early age. It is important that we continue to build on this work to make grassroots football as inclusive as possible. I was honoured to be awarded with the FA’s Grassroots Champion award today as part of The FA’s #FootballFootprint Campaign and I’m proud to support the great work that is being done here in Walsall.”

Kevin Staples, Head of Strategy & Investment at Staffordshire FA, said: “We were delighted to show Eddie some of the great work being done locally to support women and girls football at a grassroots level. It’s thanks to our committed staff and volunteers that we are able to deliver a diverse and fun grassroots game for thousands of players week in, week out.”

To find out more about the SSE Wildcats programme, please CLICK HERE