FOOTBALL

A NEW ladies football side in Loughton, thought to be the first in the area, is appealing for more players.

The newly-formed team - who are yet to settle on a team name - play at The Academy and have ambitious plans in place.

The club is looking to get affiliated with the Essex Football Association, enter a team in the league, and then build on the development of womens and girls football in the area.

Dave Carter, who will be one of the coachs invovled in the women's set-up, said: "It is important that we get this off the ground because there is so much opportunity for mens football in the area and nothing for women.

"To our knowlegde there isn't a women's team in the area.

"But we fall into a huge catchment area, with lots of potential, and we seem to be missing out."

A group of women currently play in a non-offical capacity every Wednesday at the Academy but have enough players who want to form an offical team.

And they need more ladies to join in.

"we've had a group of about 12 women coming down and playing who want to set up a side but no-on has got it by the scruff of the neck," added Carter, who has also coached Lincoln Ladies.

"This idea is all from scratch so needs to be taken one step at a time.

"We're first looking to get affiliated, join a league and then build a ladies squad of between 16-18 players. But there's no reason we can't then have more teams.

"There are no real limitations. We've got the coaches and we've got the facilities - which are fantastic - so we're looking to get in as many players as we can. And we want as many girls involved as possible.

"The long-term goal would be to have a first team playing at the highest level and to have a girls development set-up all in place."

The women train at The Academy, Lanston Road, Loughton, on Wednesdays from 7.30pm-9pm. A relaunched girls development training session will be held on Wednesdays between 6pm-7pm.

For more information, contact Dave Carver at the Academy on 0870 084 211.