WOMEN AND GIRLS UPDATE 9

Gillingham Ladies are pleased to welcome Kirsty Dowle to the club. Kirsty has been invited to assist with team sport psychology sessions in order to enhance the players’ development.

Kirsty will be providing the first team with a number of workshops as well as one-on-one consultations, covering topics from communication, improving self-efficacy, goal setting and much more.  Kirsty joins the club with a fantastic amount of experience, having completed an undergraduate degree in sport science and a postgraduate degree in sport psychology.

Kent FA, along with Kent County Cup sponsors, Kent Reliance this week announced Gills Ladies were one of the winners of the #MagicOfTheCup competition for October. Gills Ladies are very proud of this recognition for our Kent Reliance Womens Cup match, when we were joined by the Centre of Excellence players as mascots. This demonstrated how we used #MagicOfTheCup to inspire young girls to play football.

Gillingham Ladies returned to FA Womens Premier League action this week after 3 cup games and were on the road to face Bedford Ladies. The teams impressive run of form continued with another professional performance winning 9-1 to earn the team 3 points, this result also extended the unbeaten run to 9 games in all competitions.

Manager Jack Wheeler welcomed the return of skipper Lauren Williams and just before kick off was forced to make a last minute change with Imogen Alabaster replacing Courtney Shanly in goal. 

Gills Ladies have scored 24 goals and conceded 2 goals in the last 3 games, fantastic work girls! 

For full match reports and post match interviews, please click here.

We are extremely proud that Jade Keogh came second (40% of the votes and 7% behind the winner) in the Gills FC Goal of the Month for September, for her sublime free kick against Norwich City Ladies. Well done Jade!

Following a reshuffle of Gills Ladies coaching team, the club are looking for a new assistant manager. If you're ambitious, dedicated and passionate about coaching and are interested in the role, please email Charlotte Richardson crichardson@priestfield.com.

The club are also looking for a part time Performance Analyst intern to join the team, training for this role will be given and this role can be carried out remotely. If you are interested in this role, please send your CV to Nick Gearing ngearing@priestfield.com.

The Kent Girls and Ladies League have joined forces with Gills Ladies to offer all affiliated clubs within the Kent Girls and Ladies League a unique opportunity to be Gills Ladies match day mascots. 

If you would like your team to have the chance to experience this fantastic opportunity for our next home game against Herne Bay Ladies in the SSE Womens FA Cup on Sunday November, 8 please contact Charlotte Richardson crichardson@priestfield.com.

Since the start of the season there has only been two home league games played, a Season Ticket is still great value and are available to purchase from the club’s ticket office at Gillingham FC, as well as at home match days and online via Season Ticket.

Season Tickets enable Gills Ladies fans to access all league home games and half price tickets for cup fixtures.  Adult Season Tickets cost £25 (free entry for U16s).

We look forward to seeing all supporters at our next home game.

The next league game for Gills Ladies is away to Norwich LFC on Sunday, November 1 (kick off 2pm) and the next home league game is on Sunday, November 15 (kick off 2pm) against Old Actonians.

Gills Ladies host Herne Bay Ladies in the fourth qualifying round of the SSE Womens FA Cup and the match will take place on Sunday, November 8 (kick off 2pm).

Gills Ladies will host Tottenham Hotspur LFC in the second round of the Ryman League Cup and the match will take place on Wednesday, November 25 (kick off 7:45pm).

Gills Ladies travel to Lewes Ladies in the second round of the FA Womens Premier League Plate and the match will take place on Sunday, November 29 (kick off 2pm).

Tickets for all cup games are £3 for adults, £1.50 for season ticket holders and free entry for under 16s.

After two long away trips to Brighton and Middlesex the Girls COE are back at home this Saturday, October 31, against Millwall, good luck girls. 

Next week will see our second Coaches Open Evenings hosted by Mark Paterson. The sessions are for all coaches and volunteers of grassroot clubs and are free to attend. It’s not too later to sign up if you would like to attend, please just contact Centre Manager, Georgia Bowie gbowie@priestfield.com or 01634 350125. The open evening will provide coaches with two FA CPD (Continuous Professional Development) hours. 

The team are now back from the Club’s official Club charity ‘Take Heart Mercy Mission’ in Sri Lanka. During the five days, the Community team engaged with over 1200 young boys and girls, rewarding their hard work with a Gillingham FC, Take Heart T-Shirt as well as certificates and pictures of the coaches.

Adam Lawrence, Community Trust manager commented, “The trip has been incredibly humbling, seeing first-hand the hard work that the Chairman and the medical team put in to the charity. I am delighted that for the second year, the Trust has been able to support the Take Heart charity further and deliver these soccer schools.  The young people who have been involved are so very grateful, and have a fantastic attitude towards learning.  It has been a real pleasure!”

Girls Academy 

The Girls Academy has been on half-term this week but have each had the opportunity to join the Community Trust Coaches at our Half-term Soccer Schools. The girls have all been fantastic with the children and were a real asset to the team at the courses and are becoming very good coaches, well done girls. 

Our FREE Girls Only Soccer School this half-term was a great success with 40 girls attending. Everyone learnt new skills and most importantly made some new friends, thank you to everyone who attended and we hope to be running another Girls Only Soccer School in the New Year.