A REMARKABLE success story of women’s football in Coventry has captured the imagination of the city and is sparking a boom period in the game at a Coundon-based club.
Coundon Court FC made the leap into women’s football three seasons ago having spent their previous years playing in junior divisions.
With the majority of players aged just 16, the squad made tremendous progression since their debut campaign in 2013 and have since won the Regional League South and finished runners up in the League Cup.
Boosted by the formidable striking partnership of 18-year-old Lois Jefferies and 17-year-old Cerys Miller, the team were comfortably top scorers in their division last year – winning 16 out of the 20 league games.
At the other end of the pitch, Kat Molloy, 16, and Mya Graham, 17, established themselves as outstanding defenders at this level.
Team manager Barry Morris has worked wonders with the girls squad who are now featuring in the Women’s FA Cup.
The club’s success story is partly down to their Girls Summer Special training camp, where new players of the beautiful game are taught the basic skills before progressing to play for their respective age category team.
Club chairman Richard Seedhouse said: “The team went through the junior leagues each year and were followed by another team created through our Girls Summer Special camp.
“We’ve gone from competing in the Birmingham County League Third Division to the Second Division and now play in the Regional South league – it’s quite an achievement from the girls.
“Furthermore they’ve won the Open League Cup – beating several Premier Division teams along the way.
“Barry has done a tremendous job with the team and he deserves to be recognised.
“Who would’ve first on that first training day as Under-10 players they could play in the Women’s FA cup – well they did.
“As Chairman and Football Development Officer, I feel a sense of incredible pride and unbelievable awe of their achievements to go from a newly formed team to the Regional League Premier Division in three years.”
Manager Barry Morris said: “The club has a strong Junior section and it was fitting that the goal which sealed promotion last year was scored by Hannah Roxburgh who has made over 230 appearances for the club since her debut at under-10.”
“The club is excited at the challenge of playing in the Premier Division and feels well placed to consolidate its progress so far and with the average age of the squad of just 19, the future is bright.”
Visit www.coundoncourtfc.co.uk for further information about the club.
