A girls football mini-league for local clubs in south Manchester and Trafford is being held on Saturdays during June and early July at West Didsbury & Chorlton.

The contest involves teams playing from Hough End Griffins, Kingsway Athletic, Longford Girls and two teams from Unicorn Athletic. Players come from areas including Chorlton, Didsbury, Whalley Range, Withington, Burnage, Levenshulme, Timperley and Wythenshawe.

The mini-league was organised by Robbie MacDonald, manager of Hough End U15 Girls, with support from Tim Manley and Rob McKay of West Didsbury & Chorlton. Robbie has also donated a trophy while West Didsbury & Chorlton have provided match pitches and facilities for visitors. The ultimate winning team will be presented with the trophy on July 6 at a social event for all the girls teams and families at West Didsbury & Chorlton.

Robbie said: “The girls mini-matches have been really good and we’ve had lots of excellent feedback from teams, girls and parents. We had hoped for some excitement and competition between similarly-balanced teams in a series of friendly matches – and that’s exactly what we’ve had. From the first Saturday onwards, the matches have been terrific and played with great commitment by the girls. The mini-league took a lot of work to organise but I think every team, regardless of their final position in the mini-league, will have enjoyed the contest and the ultimate winners will have genuinely earned the trophy!

“West Didsbury & Chorlton has been generous in providing tournament pitches and facilities, along with good advice and enthusiastic support. Similarly, all the girls team managers and supporters from Hough End, Kingsway, Longford Girls and Unicorn Athletic have been enthusiastic and keen to take part. So thank you to everyone for their support.”

The tournament reflects West Didsbury’s move to expand girls and women’s football for all ages and abilities. The club’s two senior women’s teams have both won their respective leagues this season. Now the club is keen to develop its grassroots activities with girls including teenagers and younger girls at primary school. As part of this, Hough End under-15 Girls are transferring to West Didsbury to help form a new West Didsbury & Chorlton under-16 Girls squad. The club is also becoming a centre for the new FA Wildcats network, which promotes football for primary school-age girls through fun activities and a range of games. This scheme is aimed at girls of all abilities and none – from girls who may play a little bit of football to those who have never played at all. Girls organisations such as Rainbows and Brownies can also get involved with the FA Wildcats programme.

Hough End Griffins have primary and secondary school-age boys and girls aged up to 16. Older players then tend move on to neighbouring clubs to play in older age groups. However, this year the two clubs have agreed to transfer the current Hough End U15 girls to West Didsbury one season early, to form a new U16 team at West Didsbury and help the club’s wider development of girls football.

The current Hough End U15 team was formed around six years ago at Cavendish Primary School in West Didsbury. Some of the girls have been with the team for the past five or six years. However, newer players have also joined in more recent years. The team currently includes girls from Chorlton High School, Parrs Wood High School in Didsbury and Trinity High School in central Manchester. New players are welcome for the brand-new West Didsbury & Chorlton under-16 team. Please contact the club for more details.

PICTURES: Photos of the Hough End, Kingsway Athletic, Longford Girls and Unicorn U15 and U14s teams playing in the girls spring football mini-league at West Didsbury & Chorlton.