Chesterfield FC's Girls Centre of Excellence has offered contracts to around 50 girls from the local area for next season following recent trials.

They are the first intake since the Centre entered the new Eastern Counties League, comprising of Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge, MK Dons, Notts County, Lincoln City, Northampton and Chesterfield. 

Centre director Stewart Rowley said; "The standard was extremely high and we are delighted to be able to offer places to so many of the trialists."  

Over 100 girls from all age groups attended the special trials held at Queens Park, Chesterfield, over a period of three weeks earlier this month. 

Centre director Stewart Rowley, who is looking forward to the new season, said: "The Eastern Counties League will give our players a regular opportunity to test themselves against better players, which as elite footballers, is vital to their development.

Stewart Rowley added: "We are also delighted that Chesterfield FC continues to support girls football in the area, with our properly structured programme of coaching and quality football matches. The recent Euro Championships has created tremendous interest in female football and this is the best route for talented girls to realise their dreams and play for England." 

Chesterfield FC's Girls Centre of Excellence has teams established in three age groups of Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 and takes players from a large catchment area covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire.

Aims of the centre

* To identify and recruit suitably talented female players within the locality of Chesterfield Football Club

* To provide quality coaching, education and welfare.

* To develop players capable of performing at the highest level.

If successful, players will receive a minimum of 20 coaching sessions and compete in a new regular fixture programme.

An experienced team of F.A Qualified coaches will deliver the schedule supervised by Centre Director, Stewart Rowley.

For more information please telephone: 07720 889 661.