Despite being based 700 miles away in Nyon, Switzerland, Polly Bancroft’s thoughts will be very firmly fixed on her hometown this Saturday, as England Women take on their Brazilian counterparts at Meadow Lane. For it was an England Women’s fixture nearly 30 years ago that led to her prestigious role at Europe’s footballing heart, UEFA.
Disappointed yet determined, Polly’s path led from studying PE at Fernwood School and being involved in the Football Academy at Bilborough College, to studying Sports Development at Leeds Met University. She spent her summers back home with Nottingham City Council’s Sports Development Unit, coaching hundreds of the city’s children on the Forest Recreation’s astroturf, while gaining coaching qualifications in multiple sports, working up to her UEFA B Licence.
Opportunities at local, regional and national level followed, as Polly continued her quest to ensure that girls everywhere realise the benefits that football can bring; as her role in UEFA’s #WePlayStrong testifies through its excellent YouTube and Instagram content. A recent UEFA study shows teenage girls who play football report higher levels of self-confidence, and that football can have a greater positive impact on the self-confidence of teenage girls than other popular sports.
And she’s thankful that those attending this weekend’s international at Meadow Lane are going to have a better experience than she had; “Over 25 years on, and thanks to huge investment from The FA and multiple stakeholders, the women’s game is almost unrecognisable. There’ll be a bumper crowd to see the Lionesses - many of whom are now household names. All the squad are fully professional, playing in front of thousands of supporters on a weekly basis. It’s safe to say that girls and boys alike will not go home disappointed this time!”
Polly is equally confident about the long term impact that bringing women’s international football to Nottingham can have; “The city has a proud football history. Notts County Ladies flew the flag high in 2015 by reaching the Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley and many international players such as Jo Potter and Sophie Bradley have come through a thriving grassroots game. With both Forest and County rejuvenating their women’s teams, the future of the elite game is bright”.
And what advice does she have for anyone wanting to make a similar impact in the sport? “I would urge women and girls of all ages to contact Nottinghamshire County FA to find a way to get involved as either a player, coach, referee or volunteer - you won’t regret it!”
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