Manchester City have announced the launch of #SameGoals, a social media campaign to encourage more girls to play football whatever their background.
#SameGoals kicks off today with a social media video encouraging girls to send in footage that shows them scoring – or saving – a goal. The goal can be scored, or saved, anywhere using any kind of ball. For every video the Club receives, they will send out a limited-edition football so that each girl can keep playing and growing their passion for the game. To enter, videos should be uploaded to Twitter or Instagram tagging @ManCity and using #SameGoals. *
The percentage of females among the City in the Community participants has risen from 19% to 46% in only four years but The FA’s Gameplan for Growth revealed that in the 2016/17 season only 27% of children aged 5-15 who took part in football were female.
Earlier this week, as part of the #SameGoals launch, Manchester City women’s players Georgia Stanway and Claire Emslie visited St. Kentigern’s Primary School to deliver a goal scoring masterclass and take part in a Q&A with students about their goals and what it takes to achieve your dreams.
On 1 April, City will celebrate a dedicated #SameGoals matchday when the women’s team plays Reading at home in FA WSL.
Commenting on the launch of #SameGoals, Steph Houghton, Manchester City captain, said:
“My first memories of football are kicking a ball about on the playground. You really can play anywhere once you have a ball, which is why Same Goals is such an exciting initiative. We’re getting girls to give football a try and providing them with a ball so they can keep practising.
“Inspiring the next generation of players is important to us as a team, to be considered role models is an honour and we hope what we do today can make a difference. It all begins with a ball and from there anything is possible.”
Gavin Makel, Head of Women’s Football, added:
“With the launch of Same Goals, we want to ensure girls have access to the one tool they need to practise every day and to show them that they too can dream of one day pulling on that sky blue shirt and becoming a professional footballer.
“In January, the club launched Same City, Same Passion to promote women’s football and highlight that the similarities between men’s and women’s football are far greater than the differences. To build on the success of that campaign, Manchester City want to inspire the next generation of players.”
Participants can also keep practising by finding a club or programme near them by following any of the following links or visiting their local football association:
