One of England's top police officers has joined the quest to find the next generation of Lionesses. Northumbria Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine, a keen Manchester City fan and ambassador for the Great Britain women's football team, is passionate about giving girls equal opportunities in sport. She joined forces with the Football Association and Newcastle United to host a showcase event for 150 girls aged 13 to 15.
Focus on underserved communities
The event focused on young girls who may not ordinarily have access to sporting equipment or the opportunity to play football. An FA scout selected 16 girls for future training sessions. Chief Constable Jardine described the tournament as a 'fantastic success'. She told the Mirror: 'We have 13 schools here and it was all about bringing them together.'
'Some of them have never had opportunities like this, to play in this environment. Community policing works with a lot of different people and basically we wanted to give the girls the chance to do something that they have never done before.'
Combining sport with career insights
'There are 150 girls here, along with the mounted section and police cadets, so they can learn all about a career in policing. But the FA is also talent spotting and the next Lioness could be out there on the pitch,' she added.
Chief Constable Jardine presented the trophies alongside Newcastle United Under-16s Head Coach Rachel Furness. The event attracted a wide range of abilities, from players with many years of experience to those just starting their footballing journey.
FA talent identification
Ellie Tanser, FA Regional Talent ID Coach, explained: 'Seeing over 150 girls engaged and enjoying themselves on the pitches is a real sign of success. We hope the day inspired them to explore more opportunities, whether in football or future careers.'
'Throughout the event, we identified talented players with potential. They will be invited to a follow-up session to support their development. It will open up further pathways, from grassroots football to talent programmes.'
