We spoke with Lorraine Kennedy, secretary of Banstead-based Beecholme Belles, about their recently won Surrey FA Team of the Year award.
Tell us a little about the Belles’ history?
Beecholme Belles was established in 2000, by Gary Tuhill and Ray Watson, who were frustrated at the lack of opportunities for girls to play competitive football.
In 2001 there were enough teams to join the Belles in the Surrey County Women’s & Girls League. The Under 11s at that time went on to win the League, League Cup and Country Cup treble! The Under 10 team – which included a number of Under 8s and Under 9s – went on to be the runners up.
What do you believe the club did that led to this recognition?
The future of the club (and the sport) is in continuing to attract younger girls to join. Whilst all our managers are very committed parents, we believe a partnership with the Chelsea FC Foundation brought an element of professionalism to our coaching. We developed a new website and strengthened our links with the local community through schools activities and the village May Queen parade.
Despite being a small parent-run club, we took a financial risk to set up a development squad to cater for the younger girls and despite a slow start, the squad grew to such an extent that we ended the season with two coaches! Through the squad we developed an Under 9s team who participated in the Surrey FA’s monthly festivals.
We believe Surrey FA have recognized the efforts of the club and this award confirms we’re heading in the right direction to ensure that girls have the opportunities boys enjoy when it comes to enjoying football.
How was you 2013-14 season on the pitch and what have been the highs and lows, if any?
The only real low was the incredibly wet winter, which occasionally prevented us training and playing.
At the top end of the club our ‘on the pitch high’ was our U-16s reaching the League cup final. At the other end of the age spectrum our U-9s participated in all but one of the Surrey FA’s 4 aside festivals and their success showed how much they’ve loved their first season with the club and trained hard with smiles on their faces every week!
What does it mean to the club to win this award?
To have recognition from Surrey FA is fantastic for everyone in the club. It reinforces we’re going in the right direction and assures parents looking for a club for their daughter that Beecholme is the right choice. We’re very proud to support Surrey FA in their work to develop grassroots football and to have their support with this award is tremendous.
How are things shaping up for next season and what are your aims?
The 2014/15 season is going to be the biggest and most exciting for the Club! For the first time, we have 5 teams entered in the Surrey County Womens’ & Girls League – U-10s, U-12s, U-14s, U-15s and another first in the club’s history an U-18s team.
Over the past few months we have welcomed an incredible 31 new girls to the club with new girls playing at every age group, but predominantly with the U-12s team.
Although the FA / League format doesn’t provide for girls younger than 8, we will continue with our Development Squad next season to allow girls as young as 4 to join the sport.
She Kicks – the online news service for women’s football
