THE Jersey Football Association are looking to give the women’s game in the Island a boost with the creation of an under-18s representative side and are taking applications for a head coach to guide the team.
It is fair to say women’s football is in a period of transition in the Island, with there being only three club sides competing in the league.
However, two of those clubs, Rozel Rovers and Jersey Wanderers, have been actively developing junior girls teams for a number of years and, with many going on to play senior football, they are seeing the fruits of their labour. St Lawrence also provide coaching for girls’ teams.
Meanwhile, Jersey’s senior women’s representative team have been in good form, with a 2-1 win over away against a strong Essex FA side in the Southern Counties Cup their latest outing.
Jersey included a number of teenagers in the squad but the JFA have recognised that playing in competitive age-appropriate games will also give further opportunities to players to develop. Many younger players have also been involved in the JFA Player Development Centre for girls, which recently arranged trips to play teams from Watford, London and Liverpool.
With an U18 team the JFA is aiming to strengthen the pathway between the centre and the senior squad. The successful candidate is required to have had a background working within the women’s game.
JFA chief executive officer David Kennedy said: “In our recent Southern Counties Cup squads we have seen youngsters like Emily Le Page and Hannah Lynham make the seamless transition from U16s into the senior women’s team. We recognise not all players will be able to make that jump as quickly as those players, therefore the introduction of an U18s squad will allow us to nurture our talent much better and have more young players aiming to represent Jersey at a competitive level.”
Many young players in the past have also continued their development in the English league structure while at university and post-graduation. Megan Wood and Sara Luce both play for Southampton Women in Division One South West of the FA Women’s National League. Meanwhile, Leah Morris, the daughter of Jersey women’s coach Chad Morris, signed for Worthing in Division One South East earlier this season and Macey Wyse is a regular for the University of Stirling’s women’s team in the second division of the Scottish Premier League.
For more information, or to apply for the position, please contact David Kennedy at David.Kennedy@JerseyFA.com
