GIRLS FOOTBALL: Trying to impress the U's coaches

A hot summer's day saw even hotter football skills on offer from over 160 hopeful young female footballers as they looked to impress the Colchester United Community Sports Trust coaches at the 'Centre of Excellence' trials last weekend.

Each year the Sports Trust run the special trials as they look to find the most talented footballers in the region for their squads next season. With the sunshine beating down the girls put in a fantastic performance at the King George V Playing Fields in Clairmont Road, Colchester.

The 'Centre of Excellence' is the only one of its kind in Essex and receives special funding from Essex Active Sports and the Football Association.

The main aim of the Centre is to nurture the youngest talent and give them the highest quality coaching whilst paying special attention to the development of the individual.

This will hopefully produce players who can progress to the Female Academy, the Senior Ladies Team and then hopefully on to gain International recognition.

Charlotte Smith, the Girls Football Development Officer at the sports trust was very pleased with the turnout for the day and the supreme effort shown by the girls: "It was very hard work for them on account of the heat but to see so many girls aspiring to the next level was fantastic."

The girls took part in a warm up, training drills and matches offering the coaches the chance to look at their all round performance.

"They showed a lot of commitment and I have to give special praise to the under 10 girls, they really were very mature beyond their years," she added.

The Sports Trust has already produced three England and three Welsh International players from the excellence programme and with the prospect of playing against teams from Arsenal, Ipswich, Fulham and Chelsea awaiting them, the girls are hoping to hear the all important letter land on their doormat next week.

The selection process picks out the lucky few for the squads at Under 10, 12, 14 and 16 levels, so the coaches have a tough job on their hands.

"It's a shame that we have to turn girls away each year but my advice to them is to keep practising, work hard and you will have another chance at next year's trials, obviously well done to all of those who do get into the squads," Charlotte said.

There will be a training camp this coming September for all of the 'Centre of Excellence' squads and there are still opportunities for girls of all abilities to get into football.

Simply contact Charlotte Smith by email girlsfootball@cucst.org.uk or telephone the Community Soccer Centre on 01206 572378. Details of all of the girl's football programmes can be found at www.cucst.org.uk