Brentford ace Peters predicting bright future for women's game after hugely successful schools tournament

Brentford's Nadia Peters admitted that the future of women's football is bright on the back of a successful Girls Talent ID Schools Tournament inspired by the UEFA Women’s EUROs last weekend.

The organisers behind this year’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 partnered with Brentford Football Club to deliver the tournament in Gunnersbury Park as part of a EURO themed Schools Week initiative, which takes place from the 11th-15th July.

Over 200 participants from local schools took part, along with The German School in London and two Danish schools – ahead of Germany taking on Denmark at Brentford’s Community Stadium on Friday night. They were joined by Kai, Robyn and Ashley – the three mascots for EURO 2022 – who posed for photographs with the children.

With the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in full swing, with 16 nations competing across 10 venues, in nine host cities, with the next generation at the heart of its celebrations.

Schools in the UK will be heavily involved in the tournament, with the launch of the Schools Week as part of the Schools Programme, which aims to inspire and unite schools and pupils to get involved with the tournament.

This exciting programme is packed full of cross-curricular resources which are all themed around the Women’s EURO.

And Peters, who is the right back for Brentford Women’s first team, was impressed with the level of commitment and interest the girls showed during the day.

She said: "Playing at Brentford, you actually miss all this at grassroots level, and you miss the participation unless we come down as players and get to see it. There’s so much fantastic work going on in terms of women and girl’s football in this country and that starts at grassroots level.

"I've had a walk around today and I've seen some really fantastic players that have got a lot of skill and I think the encouragement from the EUROs, everyone wants to be seen.

"The girls are really stepping up; they've really engaged in conversations.

"I've had girls coming up to ask questions about the EUROs themselves, some girls are going to the games, so it's really good to see the participation and getting themselves involved."

The tournament is looking to inspire the next generation, both inside and outside of the classroom, by taking part in a range of Women’s EURO themed activities as part of the Schools Programme

The aim is to engage and inspire pupils to get them excited about UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, with activities including creating your own fan zone in the classroom, alongside templates of bunting, flags, and the trophy, running your own Girls Football Takeover Day or hosting your own football tournament.

Peters works at Ark Acton School away from the pitch and was struck by just how engaged the girls were.

She hoped that by having some of the Brentford team at Gunnersbury Park, participants could see how achievable a future in football really is.

She said: "Participation in women's football has grown so much so since I've been at Brentford. it means that we've been allowed to have a lot more input in what's going on and most importantly show the younger generation that there are female players out there.

"Because I think that's what I really missed as a young player - not being able to see representation but when I did see it, I felt like it was so far away.

"So, by us being here and having tournaments like this, it allows that gap to close and for young people to see that there is actually a pathway for them, and the gap is not so far away.”

Amber Langston-Lloyd plays centre back for Brentford women and is the female football development manager at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust.

The first-team player worked closely with the FA to develop the Women’s EURO Girls School Tournament and noted that the day was also used as a Talent ID opportunity in succession with the Germany versus Demark match at Brentford Community Stadium on Friday night.

Langston-Lloyd said: "We wanted to work with that and have a tournament the same day and invite a German team and Danish team down and then get them ready for the EUROs.

"It's great to see so many girls playing football and wanting to impress and show their talent.

"It's a way for them to showcase themselves but it's also a way for those who haven't really been in a team or grassroots team to actually progress and want to play with their school or us.”

Langston-Lloyd started playing football herself aged 11 and was surprised by the lack of opportunities accessible to her as a young girl in the sport.

She praised the England women's team for elevating the sport nationally in the past few years and hoped that their successes could be implemented at a younger level.

She said: "What I wanted to do was implement that and progress girls and women's football within primary school and secondary schools.