“We’ve all missed it!” That was the verdict after a morning of passing, shooting and shouts of delight meant girls from Hammersmith & Fulham’s primary schools enjoyed a football festival following a year of lockdown frustration.
Co-ordinated by borough school sports and games organiser Calum Fairley, the event – staged on Thursday (8 July) at PlayFootball’s pitches in South Africa Road, White City – saw Year 3 and 4 girls playing for fun rather than trophies.
See more pictures on our Flickr photo gallery
“The aim was to get as many girls as possible in the borough interested and playing football with a participation event that had no outright winners,” he said.
It was one of half a dozen events staged in the summer term to reactivate school sport, meet youngsters from other schools and just have outdoor fun again.
Taking part were teams from Addison, St John XXll, Ark Conway, St Stephen’s, Good Shepherd, Ark Swift and Brackbury, with everyone playing everyone else – a dozen mini matches on each of three pitches.
“The girls had a great time,” said Calum. “There was a wonderful positive response from them all, and they were excited to be playing football again. There was a great atmosphere, and we’ve all missed that! It's been too long!”
The festival was supported by QPR with school sport coordinator Gavin Forbes working with Rangers’ Community Trust and Rhia Benjamin, QPR’s Women and Girls Officer.
Want to read more news stories like this? Subscribe to our weekly e-news bulletin.
