Now the Ladies Score a Guildford Goal, and Girlford Skates Into Stoke Park

Published on: 19 May, 2021
Updated on: 19 May, 2021

By Julian Cooper

With this season closing, next year’s Guildford City changes are being revealed. Next season, a women’s team will also represent the club. This will offer the girls playing at junior level the opportunity to progress and play senior football with the club as well as the boys.

Guildford City Women’s FC are looking for players and coaching staff and initially holding trials over two weekends at Merrist Wood on Sunday, June 6 at midday and the following Sunday at 10am.

The manager and assistant manager for the women’s team are already in place along with a recently appointed assistant coach. They still need a head coach who can plan and deliver training sessions and a sports therapist who can support the playing squad with injury prevention and treatment.

If you would like to get involved, contact the women’s team manager, Benson Miyoba, on 07592 149883 or via email results@bensonjames.co.uk for more details.

While on women’s sport, a new skate collective has been established in the town and you’ll find the two founding members, Abi Townsend-Smith and Izzy Kidd, regularly practising at Stoke Park.

Catchingly, they have named the collective Girlford, although it’s open to all genders, age groups and abilities.

Abi, now back from Leeds University where there is an established skating scene, thought it would be great to set up something similar in Guildford particularly welcoming for young females who wanted to try the sport.

This is where she met Izzy and discussed the idea, initially setting up social media accounts. They have been welcoming new people they’d meet at the skate park and ask if they’d like their skills showcased via the social media channels.

Go check out @TheGirlfordCollective on Instagram to see some of the great skaters we have in this town. And visit their website for more info. https://www.thegirlfordcollective.com/about-contact

The interest in the crew has grown and a brand has been designed with Girlford on beanie hats for starters. I might just raise a petition to change the name of the town to Girlford.

Back to the “beautiful game”, our football club and Guildford City Boys and Girls FC have set up an academy structure where the youngsters can play through the age groups at junior level, possibly progressing to senior football for either the U23s (the reserves, in my day) or the first team.

The U23s alas, were beaten convincingly 4-1 in the Development Division Challenge Cup on Tuesday evening away at Mertsham FC U23s.