The Essex County FA say they would like to hear from players and coaches in the female game, about proposals to change the format of female County Cup competitions in 2017/18, including the potential introduction of an Essex U-18s Girls Cup.
Other County FA’s and member clubs may be interested to look at the options they are setting out for their cup competitions.
The Association consulted with club secretaries earlier this year with a view to receiving opinions about how the format for female County Cups should look next season, and the feedback provided was considered at a meeting held in February.
A sub-group comprising of the County FA Chairman, Wayne Deller, the Women’s & Girls Representative on the County FA’s Council, Kim Farmer, and members of the Governance and Development Teams at the County Office discussed the way forward, and they would like to widen the consultation to players and coaches in women’s and girls’ football.
It was decided there was not enough interest at the current time to develop plans for an inter-county competition with Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire but, as a result of the meeting, the following proposal will be put to an upcoming County FA Council meeting in March:
- an expanded BBC Essex Women’s Cup comprising of first and reserve teams of all women’s clubs to be initiated for season 2017/18;
- teams participating in the Eastern Region Women’s League Premier Division or the FA Women’s Premier League to be exempt to the quarter-final stage;
- teams losing in the First and Second Rounds of the competition to be placed into the Essex Women’s Trophy;
- Essex County FA to initiate an U-18 Girls’ Cup competition for season 2017/18, subject to a minimum of eight entries being received. Should eight entries not be received, U-18 teams will be permitted to enter the Women’s Trophy although, as this is an open-age competition, players will be required to have reached the age of 16 to participate.
Should an Essex U-18 Girls’ Cup be established, it would become the fifth female County Cup and the first to be inaugurated since the Women’s Trophy in 2011. The two girls’ cups began in 2009 and have gradually grown in stature, whilst the BBC Essex Women’s Cup is now in its 23rd season.
Before the proposal is finalised, the Essex County FA would like to offer players and coaches the opportunity to make any additional suggestions. These must be received no later than 5:00pm on Friday 3rd March. Please E-Mail competitions@essexfa.com with your thoughts.