Wolves women in new base boost
Wolves Women FC have set their sights on becoming the biggest female club in the country after announcing plans to move to a new multi-million pound base.
Wolves Women FC have set their sights on becoming the biggest female club in the country after announcing plans to move to a new multi-million pound base.
The club will link up with the City of Wolverhampton College to launch a new young women's football academy, based at the college's planned new £13.5million sports centre.
The youth academy will become one of the first of its kind in the country, aimed at training future stars over the age of 16.
It will mean that players leaving the Wolves girls' Centre of Excellence for under 10s to under 16s can continue their development at the club, while also benefiting from college resources.
The college's new purpose-built sports block is set to open at the end of this year at its Bilston campus.
It will feature a floodlit 3G artificial football pitch, as well as four halls, a dance studio, multi gym and various treatment rooms, a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.
Wolves Women FC chairman Jenny Wilkes believes having access to the new facilities at the Wellington Road Campus mean the club would have all the training facilities they need to promote and develop girls' and women's football throughout the city.
He said: "We are hoping to have one of the biggest and the best women's football clubs in the country.
"We already have a girls' Centre of Excellence, training the best of the region's young footballers. This link-up will mean we also have an academy for older girls to progress to.
"Training facilities are very hard to come by, so the opportunity to train on a third generation artificial pitch will make a big difference."
Director of leisure at the college, Earl Laird, is looking forward to building up links with the football club.
He said: "We hope to support the club in extending the range of services it offers, through our range of sports qualifications.
"Members of the academy will not only be able to access a range of college courses, but will also receive expert coaching, sports injury support and the opportunity to participate within national leagues and competitions."