West Ham United Women vs Reading
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the kids that being a professional<br />
female player is a viable career.<br />
The more they can see us<br />
in these positions, that’s the<br />
important work we need to do.”<br />
In the slew of surprises,<br />
the women’s team delivered<br />
a video from some of their<br />
teammates at the training<br />
ground congratulating the<br />
school’s girls’ team once again<br />
and inviting them to be mascots<br />
for today’s Continental Cup<br />
fixture against Birmingham City.<br />
“It’s amazing to see so many<br />
young people that are so into<br />
women’s football and supporting<br />
us!” exclaimed Hillyerd. “They<br />
had loads of questions which<br />
was great, and it shows just<br />
how much work we’re doing<br />
to make the game bigger.”<br />
After Parker and Hillyerd<br />
handed out the matchday<br />
invites to all the team members,<br />
the girls managed to collect<br />
everyone’s autograph,<br />
staff and players alike.<br />
“Our pupils left the school<br />
very excited which we hope<br />
will inspire them to join one of<br />
our many after-school sports<br />
clubs or an external sports<br />
club,” confirmed Summerfield.<br />
“In particular, I’m expecting<br />
to see more girls joining our<br />
after-school girls football club.”<br />
The visit formed part of the<br />
Club’s Players’ Project and<br />
Boxall felt it was a crucial part of<br />
inspiring the local community<br />
to fulfil their potential, growing<br />
the fanbase of the women’s<br />
game and encouraging the<br />
expansion of women’s football<br />
in the area as the team looks to<br />
develop homegrown talent.<br />
“We’re really keen to develop<br />
players in our community and<br />
have them represent our first<br />
team,” said Boxall. “The longterm<br />
strategy is to have up to<br />
50 per cent of our team coming<br />
from Essex and east London and<br />
we hope we can achieve that.<br />
As we’re going out to different<br />
schools, clubs and partnerships,<br />
we’re starting to see more girls<br />
playing so we realise there’s a<br />
lot of talent in the area and we<br />
hope that they can be inspired<br />
by things like today and push on<br />
and progress into our first team.”<br />
To learn more about the<br />
Foundation’s PLPS delivery<br />
or its wider work, please<br />
contact Foundation@<br />
westhamunited.co.uk or visit<br />
the Foundation area on the<br />
<strong>West</strong> <strong>Ham</strong> <strong>United</strong> website.<br />
COME ON YOU IRONS 25
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