Thanks to Yvette Henry for sharing details about these two very talented young female footballers. Hopefully someone out there will be able to help. Ed
I write to you regarding my daughter Freya Henry and her team mate Mia Ross, who are both Island born girls, age nine. Both these girls have just been offered player contracts and selected for the England Women’s Football Elite Centre of Excellence Pathway (Under 11s squad), with Hampshire FA.
This is a development pathway for elite female football players, who will progress through the different age groups (U11s, 13s, 15s, 17s) into the England Women’s Senior Squad.
Tight competition
The Centre of Excellence held by Hampshire FA in partnership with Southampton Football Club, is one of only 24 centres across the country. There is only 15 players per squad, so as you can imagine, the competition is very tough to be selected into this elite pathway.
Freya and Mia have undergone intensive trials over the past couple of months, amongst many other talented young female football players. Fantastically, we heard this week that both girls had been offered a player contract for the coming football season (2015/16).
Early start in football
Mia began playing football at age three on the Island. She progressed at age seven to play for Newport IW Youth FC up until last season where she played for Newport U9s being awarded Newport’s youth player of the year (age 8 to 18). As well as this, Mia was further successful last season in gaining a squad selection for the Under 9s England Women’s Football Centre of Excellence with Hampshire FA.
Mia is also an ambassador for sport on the Island, being awarded the talented and gifted athlete scheme by the Isle of Wight Council and the youngest sportsperson on the Island to be awarded this accolade.
Top goal scorer
Freya again began her football here on the Island at a young age whereby she progressed last season to Portsmouth FC Ladies U9s finishing the top goal scorer in her age group.
This took her all over the south of England, playing in various tournaments.
Extremely talented
These two young girls are extremely talented individuals, representing women/girls football at the highest level – especially at a time when women’s football has peaked nationally – due to the success of the England Women’s senior squad at the World Cup in Canada 2015.
Freya and Mia train twice a week in Southampton on a Tuesday and Thursday evening, for two hours at a time. They play their games every Saturday from August 15 to May 2016. They are in the London and South East league and will be competing against teams such as, Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Oxford Utd, Leicester City and many more large footballing clubs from across the country.
Help needed with costly travel
Besides Freya and Mia playing three times a week on the mainland, this is very time consuming (for us as parents) and as I’m sure you can imagine – extremely costly with regards travel.
The approximate cost of travel per parent and child is averaging from around £240 to £280 per month. This equals approx £6,500 a year for both girls.
If there is anyone willing to offer sponsorship to the girls, please get in touch.
