Players from Preston North End Community and Education Trust's [PNECET] Girls’ Emerging Talent Centre [ETC] recently received a visit from PNE defender, Greg Cunningham, at Christ the King Catholic High School.
The Girls’ ETC is backed by the Football Association and aims to increase the number of female players playing football at all levels in Preston and surrounding areas.
Cunningham spoke with each team of players, offering words of advice for how they can further develop their football skills and emphasising the value of working hard and enjoying the game, as the girls were given a day to remember.
The Irishman watched on from the sidelines as the junior female players competed in small-sided games as part of the festival, before taking part in a fun dribbling and shooting drill delivered by PNECET coaches.
PNE’s No.3 also appeared in pictures with the girls and their parents and guardians, as well as signing autographs.
Izzy, a goalkeeper at the ETC, said: “It was very exciting to meet Greg, I had never met a professional footballer up close so I and all the other players were keen to impress him.
“He said ‘Have fun, if you aren’t having fun it is pointless doing it. You play best when you are enjoying yourself.’
“The coaches from PNECET have been very welcoming, they are there to help us. They are always giving tips for how I can improve my performance and work on weaknesses of my game as a goalkeeper.
“I play for PNE Women’s Junior Football Club, and I hope to progress into a professional academy, then one day make it as a professional footballer myself.”
For more information about our Girls’ ETC, please visit the Health and Wellbeing section of pnefc.net/pnecet or get in touch with our Female Football Development Coordinator, Sagwati Malabi, on sagwati.malabi@pne.com.