Arsenal Ladies star dazzles youngsters at ReachOut’s first girls tournament

Members of the ReachOut under 15 team practice with Arsenal Ladies star Danielle Carter. Photograph: Eleonore de Bonneval

Most Hackney residents will be familiar with the sight of burly football teams battling it out on Mabley Green but this month the typically testorone-filled astroturf pitches were taken over by over 70 girls, as mentoring charity ReachOut’s inaugural football tournament got under way.

ReachOut has long had success engaging ‘hard to reach’ kids in areas of high deprivation through its boys’ football club but now girls are also benefiting from their particular blend of sport and educational activity.

All ReachOut FC training sessions for secondary school pupils consist of one hour of homework, supported by volunteers, followed by football coaching led by FA Level 2 coaches.

ReachOut FC is not an elite player development centre, but prides itself on offering the best coaching and playing opportunities it can to children and young people of all abilities in Hackney.

Competition

Nine teams turned up on the day to battle it out to win the competition. The girls were split into two age groups, under 13s and under 15s. The ReachOut teams put in a spirited performance but unfortunately came away without a win.

The final was played between Kinja, an impressive team from Wembley, and ReachOut FC’s rivals Young Hackney. The final game was a closely fought contest and went to dramatic penalty shoot-out which was won by Kinja. Young Hackney won the under-13 tournament.

Maria from ReachOut FC. Photograph: Eleonore de Bonneval

Karace Brown, 14, who played as a lone striker for the ReachOut FC said: “The games were really good, it was unfortunate that we lost three and we tied one but we enjoyed it. We got over it and carried on. Next time we’re going to try even harder. I like to play football in general, but it’s a great opportunity playing for ReachOut as you know you are supporting a charity too.”

Special guest

A guest visit from Arsenal Ladies and England under 23s star Danielle Carter who arrived to hand out the trophies and prizes was a cause for excitement amongst the footie-mad youngsters, many who had brought shirts and footballs for her to sign.

Parents were also keen to talk to the semi-professional footballer, who came through the Leyton Orient Girls Centre of Excellence, enquiring how they could get football trials for their daughters.

Ms Carter, who grew up in Romford and is studying physiotherapy alongside her career as a semi-professional footballer, said she was “impressed” with the girls’ skills. She said: “I’ve been impressed by the talent. It’s nice to see the rise in Women’s football. This is where it starts. It’s great that ReachOut have combined sport with education so successfully.”

Karace said it was inspiring to meet a female footballer. “The England ladies team are better than the men. Boys like to be sexist about it, but then they try and get the ball off you and they can’t,” she said.

The ReachOut under 15’s team. (Top row) ReachOut coach Sohko, Tolu, Dimarne, Danielle Carter of Arsenal Ladies, Sumyya, Karace and Director of ReachOut London, Pete Blackwell. (Bottom row) Safa, Maria and Vivian. Photograph: Eleonore de Bonneval

Director of ReachOut London and youth and education activist Pete Blackwell coaches the girls’ football team. Although girls’ football is on the rise, Blackwell said it was difficult to find local competitions with the right standard for his team. “I wanted to make sure we ran a competition that would give our girls lots of minutes on the pitch, against similar teams and close to their homes,” he said.

“ReachOut uses football as a tool to help young people build character and our girls love it. The girl’s side grew quite a lot last year and we’re hoping we can maintain that for the following season.

“I’m really chuffed with how the all girls all did last year, I worked with them personally and their marks improved loads. All these things tie into what we do as an organisation, building character and education. Football is a big part of helping us to engage young people and then to support their educational process.”