CONGRATULATIONS should go to Oxfordshire FA for organising a girls’ football tournament, Oxford Mail February 22, but I would question the headline “Historic” and the assertion it would be “the first girls-only schools tournament held in the county”.

In 2004 the Vale of White Horse Primary Schools FA organised a competition, solely for girls, which was part of an English Schools’ FA national tournament; it had 10 entries in the Vale. Primary schools affiliated to Mid Oxon PSFA and Oxford SFA also entered this competition, which has been held every year since its inception in 2004. A few years ago a primary school from Oxford reached the national finals.

In 2006 the Vale organised its own six-a-side competition solely for girls with 14 entries in its first year and in 2008 an additional girls only competition at seven-a-side was introduced, with 12 entries.

All the competitions have been held each year since their inception. The Vale also participated in all girls Under 11 tournaments for District Schools’ associations from 2008 to 2010. This year sees the start of a girls only football festival for Years 4 and 5.

At Secondary School level, Didcot Girls’ School have won National ESFA competitions at Under 13, 14 and 15 age group for the past three seasons and OSFA have successfully run girls only county teams which have taken part in ESFA national competitions.

I sincerely hope the girls involved in the forthcoming Oxfordshire FA tournaments enjoy their footballing experience, but they are by no means the first to take part in organised girls only football in the county.

DAVE STEMP
President, Oxfordshire Schools’ FA
Brunstock Beck, Didcot