Last updated : Tuesday, 04 March 2025
The Shropshire FA Girls' League continues to thrive in 2025, providing competitive football opportunities for young female players across the county. Local car dealership Furrows has maintained its valuable sponsorship of the league, demonstrating ongoing commitment to grassroots women's football development in the region. The partnership between Shropshire FA and Furrows has helped establish structured competition across multiple age groups including Under 12s, Under 14s and other divisions, creating pathways for talented players.
Currently, teams like Ercall Colts Juniors are making their mark in the Under 14s division, leading the table through consistent performances. The league has become increasingly popular, evidenced by significant engagement with over one million views of its online content and fixtures.
Youth girls' football in Shropshire continues to embrace the FA's Respect campaign, promoting positive behavior and sportsmanship throughout all competitions. The Beth Mead-named Under 12s division particularly highlights the league's commitment to inspiring young players through visible role models in the women's game.
History
The Shropshire FA Girls League was founded in 1995 by a dedicated group of local women with a vision to expand football opportunities for girls and women throughout the region. Their grassroots initiative aimed to address the limited options available at that time.
Over the years, the league has grown significantly, developing multiple age divisions to accommodate players from under-10s through to under-14s and beyond. This structured approach has helped create clear pathways for young female footballers in Shropshire.
Local support has been crucial to the league's development. In recent years, Furrows, a local car dealership firm, became the official sponsor of the Shropshire FA Girls' League. This partnership has provided valuable financial backing and increased visibility for women's football in the area.
The league has maintained its commitment to inclusivity and development throughout its existence. By focusing on skill building and positive sporting experiences, it has helped numerous young players progress to higher levels of competition.
Today, the Shropshire FA Girls League stands as an important institution in local women's football. It continues to expand its reach and influence, creating opportunities for new generations of female footballers across the county.
Age Groups and Divisions
The Shropshire FA Girls League offers comprehensive competitive opportunities across multiple age categories. The league structure spans from Under 8's through to Under 16's, with some seasons also including Open and Under 18's divisions.
For the 2024-25 season, the league accommodates teams in the following age groups: U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, and U16. Each age group has its own division structure tailored to the developmental needs of players.
The league has experienced significant growth, now featuring an impressive 121 teams across all age categories. This expansion demonstrates the increasing popularity of girls' football in Shropshire.
Each division follows age-appropriate rules and formats designed to enhance player development while maintaining competitive balance. Younger age groups typically play smaller-sided games on reduced pitch sizes.
The league provides a clear pathway for female footballers in Shropshire, allowing players to progress through the age groups as they develop their skills and understanding of the game.
Matches are organized within these divisions to ensure fair competition between teams of similar ability and player age. This structured approach helps maintain appropriate developmental challenges for all participants.
Committee/Staff/Contacts
The Shropshire FA Girls League, proudly sponsored by Furrows, is managed by a dedicated team of staff and committee members. At the helm of the Shropshire FA is Andy Weston, who serves as the CEO and Senior Safeguarding Lead.
Andy can be contacted directly via email at Andy.Weston@shropshirefa.com or by phone at 07435 960651. His role encompasses leading the delivery of all Shropshire FA initiatives, including oversight of the girls' league operations.
The league requires team managers to maintain communication standards. Managers must contact opposing teams no later than Tuesday at 9 PM before weekend fixtures. Failure to comply with this communication rule may result in fines being issued.
For the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons, the league maintained specific management details which were documented in their respective handbooks. These resources contain valuable contact information for league officials and team representatives.
The Shropshire FA Girls League emphasizes respect and proper communication channels as part of their operational structure. This ensures smooth running of fixtures and addresses any concerns promptly through the appropriate contacts.
Local car dealership Furrows continues to provide valuable sponsorship support to the league, demonstrating the strong community partnerships that help sustain youth football in Shropshire.
Teams
The Shropshire FA Girls League features numerous teams across various age groups. According to recent information, the league hosts an impressive 121 teams throughout all age categories, providing a comprehensive pathway for girls from U8 to U18 levels.
At the younger levels, several U7 and U8 teams compete, including Baschurch FC U7 Girls, Bayston Hill Juniors U7 Girls, and Prees Club U7 Stingrays. The U8 category includes teams such as Albrighton U8 Girls, Baschurch FC U8 Girls, and Bridgnorth Spartans U8 Whites Girls.
In the U13 age group, notable teams include:
- Shrewsbury Juniors U13 Girls (competing in the "Mary Earps" division)
- Baschurch FC U13 Girls (competing in the "Lauren James" division)
These team names reflect the league's commitment to inspiring young players by naming divisions after prominent women footballers.
Sparta FC is another club participating in the league, with their girls' teams regularly taking part in cup competitions within the Shropshire Girls Football League structure.
The diverse range of teams across different age groups demonstrates the strong grassroots foundation of girls' football in Shropshire. Furrows Ford, as the league sponsor, plays an important role in supporting these teams and helping develop young talent in the region.
Players
The Shropshire FA Girls League features talented young female footballers across various age groups, from Under 8s to Under 12s and beyond. These dedicated players represent numerous clubs throughout the Shropshire region.
Notable teams in the league include Whitchurch Alport U12 Girls, Worthen Juniors U12 Girls, and Wrekin Juniors U12 Lionesses Girls. All three teams have shown strong performance with 16 points each in their respective standings.
Ercall Colts Juniors U12 is another team competing in the league, developing young talent and promoting girls' football in the area. The league also includes Wrockwardine Wood Juniors U8s Girls, who participate in the Under 10's division.
Players in the Shropshire FA Girls League benefit from the sponsorship of Furrows, a local car dealership firm. This partnership helps provide resources and support for the development of female football talent in Shropshire.
The league structure allows players to compete at appropriate age levels, fostering skill development and teamwork. Young players gain valuable experience through regular matches and tournaments organized by the Shropshire FA.
Team standings in the U12 division:
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitchurch Alport U12 Girls | 16 |
| 2 | Worthen Juniors U12 Girls | 16 |
| 3 | Wrekin Juniors U12 Lionesses Girls | 16 |
| 4 | Ercall Colts Juniors U12 | - |
