Moneyslane reap the benefits from SCORE project

This annual event runs over the course of three nights and attracts approximately 85 children.

This year, and following on from the work of coach Michael O’Kane through the SCORE Pilot Project, 26 girls attended. Seventeen of those girls had recently joined the club as a result of Michael’s coaching within local primary school at Drumadonnell.

The SCORE Pilot Project, funded through the UEFA HatTrick programme, is a unique initiative aimed at assisting women’s football clubs in Northern Ireland to establish links with their local primary and post primary schools.

In total 36 clubs are involved in the project which involves three core elements; firstly, each club nominates a coach to undertake a coach education course; secondly, the nominated coach then delivers 12 coaching sessions within primary and post primary schools; and lastly, the club endeavours to set up a junior girls’ team within their club.

The ultimate aim of the project is to establish school - club links in order to encourage more girls to join local clubs.

Moneyslane Girls currently compete in the U11 section of the NIWFA Mid Ulster Girls’ League. Although the U11 age group is non–competitive and scores are not recorded, the girls at the camp were eager to mention that they remained unbeaten in eight games.

Coach Michael O’Kane commented on the growth of the girls section at the club, “The girls are loving playing in the junior league every Saturday and we will have to enter more teams next year in order to provide enough places for all our girls to play.  

“The future of the girls section is looking very good for Moneyslane Football Club and long may it continue. The motto at Moneyslane Football Club is that ‘Football is for All’ and everyone deserves a chance no matter what their ability.”

If you would like further information about girls’ football at Moneyslane FC please contact Michael O’Kane on [email protected] or 078 69151442.