Highlights: Swansea City 1-3 Bristol City
Posted: Sunday, February 28th 2021
Football in the community across four generations
Friday, March 8th 2019
Four generations of women from one family are getting involved in football through the Bristol City Community Trust.
Ruby-Lee, the youngest of the four generations at 13 years old, was the first to start coming to our women’s and girl’s sessions almost three years ago.
The lack of opportunity for girls to get involved in football was identified by three teenage members of our youth council (Lauren, Grace and Mel) who had the idea of starting up our women’s and girl’s sessions as a means of getting more women involved in football. This scheme has since received national recognition and won the FA women’s football award for best participation initiative.
Ruby-Lee was one of the first participants in these female sessions and has since flourished as a footballer becoming more confident in both her ability and herself. She now not only takes part in the sessions, but also plays for local girls’ team Stockwood Wanders.
Word spread of these women’s football sessions from Ruby-Lee to her mother Alena, and with some encouragement from Bristol City Community Trust coaches, Alena started taking part in the F3 fitness sessions which run alongside our Premier League Girls programme.
From here, the word further spread to Alena’s mother, Mandy, and Grandmother, Diane, who also began attending the sessions. They have now both been attending them for nearly two months.
Coach Jon Pinches, who oversees the running of the Bristol City Community Trust Women’s football sessions, said, “It’s great to see so many women and girls coming along to our sessions and getting involved, but to have four generations of one family all in attendance really is something special. It really exemplifies that football is a game for all.”
He added, “A lot of the girls use our sessions as a springboard to go on and get stuck into grassroots football, with many following Ruby-Lee’s example and joining local sides. This is great for the sport as a whole.”
Alena told the Trust that, “I am really enjoying the sessions and am seeing improvements in both my fitness and health.
“I am now also bringing my friends along to the sessions as well as my Mum and Gran.”
Diane, who hadn’t played football in around fifty years, told the trust that, “it’s really nice to be getting active and playing sports again that I haven't played for many years.”
To find out more about the sessions and the work that we do at the Community Trust click here.
Also from Bristol Sport
LIVE: Manchester Giants v Bristol Flyers
Tune in LIVE as Bristol Flyers travel to Manchester Giants in the second game of their weekend doubleheader (5pm tip-off).
Posted: Sunday, February 28th 2021 • Basketball
Highlights: Bristol Bears 17-3 Leicester Tigers
Bristol Bears completed their eighth win in 11 games this season as they beat Leicester 17-3 to cement their place at the top.
Posted: Saturday, February 27th 2021 • Rugby
As it happened: Bristol Bears 17-3 Leicester Tigers
Re-live all of the action from the hard-fought victory over Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate, as we dissect the key moments.
Posted: Saturday, February 27th 2021 • Rugby
'Pleased with our defence' - Lam
Pat Lam praised a gritty defensive display from his side, after the Bears battled to an eighth Gallagher Premiership win of the season against Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate.
Posted: Saturday, February 27th 2021 • Rugby
Report: Bristol Bears 17-3 Leicester Tigers
Two tries in five first-half minutes helped the Bears return to winning ways with a battling victory over Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate.
Posted: Saturday, February 27th 2021 • Rugby