Committed and highly-driven female players are invited to show the Essex County FA Girls Regional Talent Club (RTC) they have the potential to join existing elite squads, with sessions arranged in June for Under 11s to 16s players.

The RTC programme further extends on grassroots-level opportunities. The open selection process at Shrub End Community & Sports Centre in Colchester enables any female player from the age of ten all the way through to 15, regardless of where they play and how long they have been playing, to demonstrate they have elite potential to access the FA Lioness Talent Pathway.

All RTC age groups train twice a week, with highly-qualified coaches. To support the increase in the training sessions, and to aid player development, the programme offers strength and conditioning sessions once a week as well as access to a physiotherapist. This helps with injury prevention and rehabilitation so players are not just looked after on the field, but off the field, too.

Under 11s and 12s (Wednesday 9th June)

6:30-8:00pm. Registration closes at midnight on Sunday 6th June 2021 (Register)

Under 14s and 16s (Monday 14th June)

6:30-8:00pm. Registration closes at midnight on Friday 11th June 2021 (Register)

These events will be closely monitored and delivered alongside Covid-19 protocols. A strict number limit will be followed for each event and alternatives dates will be used, if required, to ensure the RTC accommodate as many players as possible. If alternative dates are needed, the RTC will look to communicate this at the earliest convenience.

Further dates to support with additional open trial or selection days are:
  
* Wednesday 16th June 2021
* Monday 21st June 2021
* Wednesday 23rd June 2021

Recent connections with the University of Essex mean the RTC have been able to offer student volunteering work placements to shadow coaches and staff and, from this, have gained invaluable on-field based experiences.

Over the season, England Talent Technical Coaches attend to see players and make recommendations into the Lioness Talent Pathway. Club Manager, Dani Warnes, is excited to be participating in another campaign.

She explained: “To be in a position where the easing of national lockdown restrictions has enabled us to open our doors once again for an open trial process is simply fantastic. This will enable players with elite potential to experience what the next step from grassroots football into the Lioness Talent pathway looks like, both on and off the field.”

“The Essex County FA have recently been awarded another season’s extension to operate the RTC, equating to over eight seasons operating the programme. Each year the players, staff and environment developed continue to go from strength-to-strength. The commitment to offering an opportunity for female players to grow and develop locally still remains.”

“The centre continues to perform on the pitch, with great representation over eight seasons into national teams. It also sees continued participation in higher education sporting establishments, FA Women’s Super League academies, FA Women’s National League sides and FA-led initiatives beyond our Under 16s.”

“Off the pitch, we’ve continued to exceed The FA’s expectations, as well as continuing to work towards our collective mission. We hope, for the 2021/22 season, we can further continue our work with local grassroots clubs and their coaches through CPD and shadowing opportunities.”

“And we are continuing to provide our players, through University of Essex student engagement, with workshops on nutrition and psychology, ensuring we support all elements of player development both on and off the pitch.”

Register your place by following this link, or E-Mail Danielle Warnes (Club Manager) at essexrtc@essexfa.com to find out more. Information on girls’ football is also shared on Twitter by @EssexCountyFA and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

What’s the Regional Talent Club Match Format?

Matches take place with varying formats, depending on the age group. The Under 14s and 16s play within The FA’s Girls England Talent Pathway League on Saturday mornings, with the programme split into two. The first part of the season sees the club play in seeding fixtures to determine the most appropriate level for those teams.

In previous years, RTCs played other RTCs based on their ‘tiering’ and not necessarily the ability of the players. This approach is much more player-focused. Once the seeding fixtures have taken place, this helps determine how the remaining league fixtures are structured. The Under 14s and 16s played against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Charlton Athletic last season.

The Under 11s and 12s play in the local Brentwood Community Football Alliance Youth League against, predominately, boys’ teams. But the growth of the league, and the development of grassroots girls’ teams, now sees the RTC playing both boys’ and girls’ teams. Fixtures are played on Sundays. Home games for all age groups are played in Colchester.