With the current football season drawing to a close over the next couple of months, the women’s football team at Solihull College are proving they are doing anything but taking their foot off the gas.
The team of eleven young women, all students at the College won English Schools FA Cup Final against Accrington and Rossendale College at the Ricoh Arena; an amazing triumph in their first year as a team. In addition to this, they have also recently won the English Colleges FA League with two games in hand and are in the quarter finals of the ECFA Premier Cup.
Last year Solihull College partnered up with Birmingham City Ladies FC, thus providing a professional link for young women within the College’s Football Academy. Described as a unique opportunity for young players in the Midlands, the College offers players a chance to be part of the Academy alongside being fully supported in both further and higher education studies.
Marc Skinner, Football Academy Manager at the College comments: “This is an outstanding achievement, we are incredibly proud of the team as they have shown such remarkable dedication and determination. The win is fully deserved and we look forward to celebrating future successes within the Football Academy”.
17-year-old Sophie Baggaley is the team’s goalkeeper and, along with celebrating the team’s amazing victory, she is also celebrating one of her own. The young player has just been promoted to BCLFC First Team, demonstrating the progression that can be achieved by the College’s professional link with BCLFC. Sophie, along with a number of her team mates, has also been called up to play for the England U19 squad this season.
Sophie comments: “This is a dream come true for me, it’s exactly what we work towards and to know I have achieved this is a great feeling. I have been playing football since I was six and to be able to play at this level while studying is a fantastic experience”.
To find out more about the Solihull College Football Academy, please follow this link or call 0121 678 7000
