November, 2019
We’ve always been proud to sponsor three of the girls team at Highnam FC and it was great to see the success of the under 12 team 'Highnam Hotspurs' recognised by the local press.
This season, coach Paul Holmes, took the bold step to move the team to the Severn Valley U12 Division C, which is traditionally a boy’s league. Paul had full confidence in the girls and this is paying off as the club are topping their league so far by winning their first six matches.
The full article can be found at https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/meet-mighty-highnam-hotspurs-team-3496545?fbclid=IwAR2S5POxptMdPxls1k8iY2cUh3SfKQjE17qc1NNFhnxbfShjR9_TN_b1VsY
Those at Gloucester Primary Schools Football Association won’t be surprised: this team is made up of last year’s girls’ team, who finished 3rd at the National School’s Finals, and are supplemented by quality additions from Gloucester City and Highnam Sunday teams to build a formidable squad.
And the fledgling Hotspurs really landed on their feet when Jonathan Stiddard signed up to coach alongside supremo Paul Holmes. Highnam have also benefitted from becoming a Sister Club to Women’s Premier League team Birmingham City Ladies, giving the girls access to their impressive facilities and great coaching. The Gloucestershire FA and the Gloucestershire Girls Academy at Almondsbury have also assisted the club to help ensure the girls were ready for this new challenge.
With 44 goals in their six league and one County Cup matches, there are goals all around with Siurri Wright topping the League scoring charts alone with 11 strikes, a further 10 from central midfielder Amelie Birchley, whose double digit included four in the County Cup against Gloucester Javelins two weeks ago. Freya Boucher, Lucia Frattolillo, Kimmi Tanner-Joyce and Leilani Ryder more than double that total with their own contributions. Four of the league’s top six goalscorers wear the blue of Highnam Hotspurs.
The club are lucky to have two of the County’s best goalkeepers in Florence Stiddard and Eilidh Campbell, although only one plays at any one time. They are ably protected by a very consistent back three of Gracie Holmes, Isabelle Martin and Martha Campbell and supported by some outstanding displays in recent weeks from Katie Coldridge and Isabelle Kester against some of the league’s best teams. Rosinah Gbada’s pace and poise at the back has seen her pick up a player of the match award.
The team is completed with the dependable Erin Freeman and tricky Syesha Hector as part of a ball winning creative midfield, often feeding the wings, where the club is especially blessed with quality.
The Hotspurs have found all opposition players (albeit sometimes initially bemused), coaches and fans very respectful and you wouldn’t have thought you were playing boys against girls, especially when the games began.
Well done to all the girls and coaches from all the team at Naylor Powell. May your hard work and winning streak continue!
