WOMEN & GIRLS UPDATE 16

Gillingham Ladies travelled to Forest Green Rovers in the second round of the FA Women’s Cup on Sunday 17 January, this was the teams first competitive match since early December due to a number of postponed matches. Forest Green Rovers took the lead but Gills Ladies levelled the game in the second half and took the game to penalties, after heroics from goalkeeper Courtney Shanly saving three penalties Gills Ladies won the match and progressed to the next round of the cup. 

Manager Jack Wheeler stated “he was pleased with the result and to see the team get 2016 off to a winning start, but admitted we made very hard work of it, it has been hard to try and keep the girls fit and sharp when we haven’t had a game since the 6th December. But the girls dug in together in some unfavourable playing conditions and managed to get the win”.

For Manager Jack Wheeler’s full post match interview please click here.

The Ladies next home game is against Newcastle Utd WFC in the FA WPL Plate on Sunday, January 31 and then host either Swindon Town LFC or Tottenham Hotspur LFC in the third round of the FA Women’s Cup on Sunday, February 7. 

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 in 2016 please contact Jack Wheeler jwheeler@priestfield.com.

The Gills Ladies website has been updated and now includes a new Ladies and Girls section and the page is dedicated to the female player pathway at Gillingham FC. Please click here.

Since the start of the season there still 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.  Adult Season Tickets cost £25 (free entry for U16s). 

Sunday, January 24 (kick off 2pm) – Denham Utd LFC – FA Women’s Premier League South East (Away)

Sunday, January 31 (kick off 2pm) – Newcastle Utd WFC – FA Women’s Premier League Plate (Home)

Sunday, February 7 (kick off 2pm) – Swindon Town LFC/Tottenham Hotspur Ladies – FA Women’s Cup (Home)

For full fixture list please click here.

Tickets for all games are £3 for adults and free entry for under 16s.

After a short break over Christmas our squads are back in training and getting ready for their first fixture of 2016, which will see them take part in a tri-fixture with Oxford and Hampshire COE. 

Last Saturday our U17s had the opportunity to take part in a training match with our Girls Academy and the younger players of Gills Ladies. It was a great run out for all the players involved and a fantastic opportunity for the coaches to see the depth of talent at the club.

Congratulations to U17s GK, Katie Startup who has been selected to represent England in the upcoming U17s Women’s NTC Invitational in Los Angeles next month. Katie has just returned from the latest England camp so it won’t be too long before she meets back up with the rest of the squad and once they arrive in the States they will face teams from the USA, Japan and South Korea. Well done Katie and good luck to the squad.

The Girls Academy are back in to the thick of it as they continue their studies at Priestfield Stadium. Gills Legend and former Trinidad and Tobago International, Ian Cox has been taken the lead with the Girls training this year and is proving a big hit. 

Ian said, “It’s been a pleasure working with the girls this year, they are a great group and they really want to learn and take on board everything we do. They always put a smile on my face and I’m looking forward to continuing the sessions with the squad.”

We are currently recruiting for the Academy for next season, to find out more please click here.    

Congratulations to the team from Rainham School for Girls who have won the Area Finals of Kinder +Sport Futsal Cup and are now through to the Regional Finals. To find out more about their success please click here.

This February the Community Team will be hosting a FREE Girls Only Soccer School on Wednesday 17th Feb at Kicks Soccer Centre in Strood. For full details please click here.