Women’s and girls’ football has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, with the success of the Lionesses inspiring thousands of new players across the country.
For grassroots clubs, that growing interest presents both an exciting opportunity and an important responsibility: to ensure girls can access welcoming, enjoyable and sustainable opportunities to play.
Here at Beacons FC, we have already seen the confidence, enjoyment and team spirit that girls’ football can create.
On 30 May 2026, our Under-10 Beacons girls team won the Pro2Pro tournament—an incredible achievement made even more impressive by the fact that the players had never previously played together as a team.
The girls showed fantastic ability, determination and teamwork throughout the tournament, and everyone at Beacons was incredibly proud of what they achieved.
A huge congratulations once again to every player involved, and thank you to Pro2Pro for delivering such a well-organised and enjoyable tournament.
Achievements like this demonstrate what can happen when girls are given the chance to play, develop and enjoy football in a positive environment. They also provide inspiration for younger players who may be considering joining a team for the first time.
Across the wider game, the Football Foundation has announced further support through its Lionesses HERe to Play Fund. The programme is intended to help organisations establish new teams, purchase kit and equipment, and make football facilities safer and more welcoming for women and girls.
Funding opportunities include grants to help create new teams and England Football programmes, alongside larger grants for improvements that make facilities more inclusive.
The Foundation has also highlighted some of the practical barriers that can discourage women and girls from participating. These can include unsuitable changing facilities, poor lighting, inconvenient session times and a lack of appropriate kit or equipment.
However, creating an inclusive football environment is about more than facilities.
It means ensuring girls feel represented, supported and treated as footballers from the moment they arrive. It requires welcoming coaches, suitable playing opportunities and a culture in which every child feels able to participate and develop.
For younger players in particular, seeing girls and women succeeding throughout the game can have a powerful effect. It shows them that football is a space where they belong—whether they dream of playing at the highest level or simply want to enjoy time on the pitch with their friends.
At Beacons FC, our aim is to provide a positive football experience for young players and families across our community. We are proud of the continued growth of our girls’ teams and look forward to creating even more opportunities in the seasons ahead.
Every child should have the chance to discover football, build confidence and find out where the game might take them.
