Jersey FA has been granted government funding to help the island’s football association increase the number of women and girls playing football locally. 

Through the funding, Jersey FA is in a position to now recruit a Football Development Officer, whose primary focus will be to enhance the provision of women and girls’ football across the island, and support clubs in expanding their current offering to players and coaches.

Delivered through the Jersey government’s Connect Me: Connecting our Communities micro-grant scheme, which supports projects across the island focusing on improving people’s mental or physical health, the funding will also enable Jersey FA’s new Football Development Officer to target a wide audience.

One particular aim of Jersey FA’s new Football Development Officer will be to engage with minority groups, such as the Portuguese community, families on low income and anybody requiring additional support following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jersey FA Chief Executive Officer, David Kennedy, said: “As the only sports body in Jersey to have achieved the UK Equality Standard for Sport, we pride ourselves on our diverse offering to ensure football in Jersey is for all. The growth of the women and girls’ game nationally over the past few years has been nothing short of incredible, aligning with the tremendous success of the England senior women’s team at both last year’s Euros and this year’s World Cup. 

“We want to ensure that every woman or girl inspired by the Lionesses has the chance to play football locally, enhancing both their physical and mental health. We are incredibly thankful to the Jersey government for approving this funding application, which enables us to recruit a designated women and girls’ Football Development Officer to help us reach our targets of significantly increasing female participation.”

Currently, Jersey FA delivers a participation programme for girls aged 5-11, including after-school clubs and holiday camps. However, through funding and recruitment, Jersey FA will be able to utilise a strategic resource that can grow clubs’ offerings and ensure they’re sustainable. With Jersey’s existing adult women’s league citing difficulty recruiting and retaining players, work is needed to ensure a strong, bright future of women’s football in Jersey.

Alongside work with clubs, Jersey FA will look to work with schools and clubs to remove barriers preventing girls with an opportunity to play football nurturing key reasons for initiating playing such as building and maintaining self-esteem, keeping fit, making friends and having fun.

Deputy Lucy Stephenson, Assistant Economic Development Minister with responsibility for sport, added: “The Jersey FA has set out ambitious plans to give local women and girls, particularly those from minority groups, the opportunity to play football and I’m delighted that the government has been able to provide this funding to help with that work. With the Lionesses’ recent performance at the World Cup the timing could not be better, and I look forward to seeing what develops as a result. I will also continue to engage with the Jersey FA and others regarding female participation in sport and explore ways we can work together to improve and enhance the opportunities available and level the playing field where it is needed.”

Finally, Jersey FA’s new Football Development Officer will crucially work to ensure the provision of environments that are inclusive for female players, regardless of cost, players’ ethnicity or family status; bringing women and girls from all demographics in Jersey together. It’s this value which is mutually shared between Jersey FA and the Government of Jersey, and which celebrates the diversity the island has.

For more information on women's football in Jersey, please click here.