A WOMEN'S football club, in Winchester, has major plans to expand its facilities

Winchester City Flyers, based at the Garrison Ground, is one of the largest grassroots football clubs in the UK.

They currently have more than 480 girls and ladies registered across 22 youth teams and three senior teams.

The first team play in the Southern Regions Premier Division which is tier five of the women's football pyramid.

On the back of the recent success of the England women at the European Championships, Winchester City Flyers are looking to new sites to expand.

The club wants to incorporate 3G artificial pitches, grass pitches, a clubhouse, changing facilities and a car park. Specifically, they are looking to increase from four to 13 hectares with a minimum lease of 25 years.

Allan Higgs, chairman, said: “Since the club was started in 1996 we have seen a steady increase year on year in player numbers joining us. This increase has risen steeply in the last four to five years following the wider promotion of the female game both through the FA, media and the successes of the Lionesses at the last World Cup and Euro Championships and we now have over 480 girls and ladies registered.

“We continue to offer football to girls of all ages and abilities and we expect numbers to continue to rise significantly.

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“We have reached saturation point with available facilities within the area, especially during the winter months when artificial surfaces and lighting are required. There is a distinct lack of facilities within the area and those that are available are shared across multi-sports and genders.

“This is why, some 18 months ago, we formed a ground working group to look at securing some land to be able to build and run a fit for purpose all weather facility and stadia as we feel this is the only way we can continue to grow.

“We have suffered many setbacks and rejections but our desire to succeed and give our girls the best we can still burns strongly and this is why we are launching our new 'get behind the goal' campaign to stimulate interest and engagement from stakeholders, Winchester City Council and the Football Foundation.”

Allan explained where he wants to see the club in ten years time. He said: “I want to see the club installed in a new home with superb facilities which can offer both grass pitch and AWP surfaces for our girls. Also, a clubhouse and meeting room facilities with refreshments.

“To see the growth of the club continue and to be able to offer more usage and availability to this growth. To continue to promote and support female coaches within the club to obtain coaching badges.”

For some players, Winchester City Flyers has provided a place where they can progress through the age groups and become involved in coaching. This was the case for Charlie Gordon, who first joined the club 17 years ago and now plays for the reserve team.

Charlie also used this as a base to start a coaching business, going into Winchester primary schools to provide girls with opportunities to play.

Charlie said: “I started playing when I was at Stanmore Primary School. It was with the boys at that point and I initially joined Winchester City FC. I then joined Flyers which only had three teams at the time.”

Charlie, 24, explained that she joined the ladies' team at 16 before going to university. She said: “Football is a big part of what I do. I enjoyed playing it along with my academic studies. My first opportunity to coach came when my sister started to play and my parents were the coaches of the team. My mum became the first female qualified coach at the club.”

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Charlie's coaching business is called Feeba Football and currently coaches girls at Colden Common Primary School, St Bede, Westgate Primary School and St Swithun's.

She said: “It's aimed at increasing participation. The feedback from parents and schools has been amazing. We currently have a total of ten coaches, nine of which are female.

“Winchester City Flyers is massive, it's important to have a clear pathway to the first team. For year, fathers have been taking their sons to football, but now they are takings their daughters as well. With larger crowds at women's football now and it being shown on TV, it has become normal.”

The club is running its annual tournament over the weekend of September 9 and 10 where 150 female teams from U7 to ladies from across the south come to Winchester to start the season. They are currently limited to 150 teams on a first come first served basis as they have limited capacity at the playing fields, but could expand to over 250 with the the resources and space.