Leek Life November/December 2013 | Page 34

LEEK LADIES CSOB Recruitment drive to play ‘the be W omens Football hasn’t had the greatest of press this year with the disappointment of England exiting the UEFA Women's EURO 2013 tournament in the group stages in Sweden earlier this year, followed by the sacking of England’s Women's senior team Head Coach Hope Powell after 15 years leading the team, but at a more local level the ‘beautiful game’ is having a lot more success. Leek Ladies CSOB is part of Leek’s (County School Old Boys) Football Club which was formed back in 1945 by the late schoolmaster Trevor Harvey to provide football and other sports for youngsters leaving school immediately at the end of the Second World War. It was a time of poverty and the formation of the Old Boys Club provided the opportunity for boys to play sport. Leek County School Old Boys has run continuously since its formation. Applying the same ethos and values today, as 34 Leek Life November/December 2013 a club that offers sporting opportunities for all now, and not just boys, in the years of change which lay ahead brought with it the introduction of a womens team. Football is indeed a universal game which attracts more female spectators, fans and supporters than ever before, but as a male dominated sport it is still difficult to encourage new female players onto the pitch as well as off it. One of the players for Leek Ladies CSOB, Lizzie Fleming spoke to Leek Life about her experiences of playing and helping to coach the junior girls team, she told Leek Life: “I currently play for Leek Ladies CSOB Football club and help coach the under 10s girls side. “Ladies football is a sport that is rapidly growing within the UK, with the success of last years olympics and with the England womens teams often outdoing their male counter parts, we would like for other members of the