Amber - Wildcats
Amber, age 10, attended Wildcats sessions with Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) for two years and has now progressed on to the Charlton Athletic Football Club’s Emerging Talent Centre (ETC).
Wildcats is a non-competitive football session for girls aged 5-11 which promotes female participation in the sport. The sessions are suitable for girls who are trying football for the first time or those who wish to play football with other girls their age.
Whilst attending regular sessions with Wildcats, Amber’s confidence has grown, and her football skills have improved. Wildcats runs for the school term so when half-term came around Amber joined CACT’s football holiday courses to keep playing football.
Amber's Dad, Paul, said:
"We've noticed a massive improvement with Amber this season with her confidence and technical ability. She's developed an ability to read the game really well."
Lucy Bailey, CACT’s Women & Girls Football Development Officer, said:
"Amber has always been a very enthusiastic player and is willing to take on all the coaching advice giving to her at Wildcats. This enabled her to improve her technical skills and ball manipulation, as well as her tactical understanding of the game. The social side of Wildcats really allowed her character to shine through, and I'm delighted to see how she has developed over the years. It's fantastic to now see her at the ETC every week, enjoying her football, and continuing her development. She is well on her way to her dream of playing for Charlton one day!"
"I believe that the curriculum covered in Wildcats can give any young girl a solid foundation to develop into a player good enough for Charlton Athletic Women’s ETC, and it is nice for us to start building that link with the Women's side to ensure a professional pathway is in place for any girls taking their first steps into football."
Find out more about the Wildcats sessions and book a place here.
During the Easter holidays, CACT is running a girls-only football holiday course for girls aged 4-15 in New Eltham, with mixed gender courses available at locations across Greenwich, Bexley and Kent as well. Find a course near you here.