Accrington Stanley Community Trust have agreed terms with local team St Josephs Ladies for them to merge into a new community club playing under the banner of Accrington Stanley Girls & Ladies ready for the new season.
The Community Trust will continue to work with the existing players and volunteers at St Joseph’s Ladies to increase the quality of provision and provide support in numerous areas.
The new club will be registered to Lancashire Football Association and become charter standard within its first year. There are currently around 30 ladies registered to the club who will become affiliated to Accrington Stanley Community Trust and benefit from the charity’s expertise and resources.
Martin Fearon, Community Trust Manager said: “We are delighted to be launching a new community club in partnership with St Josephs Ladies FC. It is a fantastic opportunity for the team to be representing Accrington Stanley and we want to help grow female grassroots football over the coming years. By teaming up with an established ladies team it gives the new club a solid base to start from and rewards the current players with additional coaching, new training and match kits, equipment and better access to facilities.’’
Accrington Stanley Girls & Ladies will start the 2017/18 season with an adult first team and newly formed development team. September 2017 will also see a new intake of school leavers who will form an U18 girls’ team which will be part of a full time BTEC Sport education programme based at the Wham Stadium. New satellite clubs will be launched for girls aged 5-11 and the Community Trust will continue to deliver the Premier League Girls programme in Secondary Schools for 12-16 year olds which had over 350 participants this season. Plans are in place to introduce a junior section over the next couple of seasons at multiple age groups with funding already secured to set up additional teams and increase participation.
Pam Kerans, Secretary of St Josephs Ladies FC said ‘’ I am delighted that the team have been given the opportunity to be part of Accrington Stanley Community Trust, for me this secures the teams sustainability for many years to come. I look forward to working with the team at Accrington Stanley Community Trust to continue to provide opportunities for ladies in football.’’
More updates will be announced on our website www.stanleytrust.co.uk over the coming weeks with some exciting new opportunities to look out for.
Committee Members:
Chair – Alex Palffy
Vice Chair – Elle Kayley
Secretary – Pam Kerans
Welfare Officer – David Keeley
Treasurer – Naomi Entwistle
Other Members – Martin Fearon,
Becki De-Maine
Anne Ellwood.
