South Yorkshire and football in general’s landscape is changing and a surge towards encouraging more women and girls to get involved in football is taking place right in front of us.
The FA’s introduction of the Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) gives football clubs across the country funding to create a pathway for female footballers either already involved in football, or looking to get involved for the first time.
Launched in 2022 as part of the FA’s ambition to get more women involved in football, ETC’s are designed to unearth and encourage potential stars of the grassroots game in areas that have traditionally lacked specific pathways.
Designed to provide weekly, high-quality coaching alongside players’ grassroots commitments, the ETC programme offers an alternative to the Regional Talent Centres (RTC) of old. A focus is placed on potential, not pedigree.
In South Yorkshire, the impact has been significant. Local ETCs in Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield United and Rotherham United are now giving girls easier access to elite-level coaching without clubs or communities losing their players.
Why is the ETC important to South Yorkshire women’s football?
In a region where women’s football is rising and becoming increasingly popular, pathways such as the ETC are needed now more than ever to continue to encourage more women and girls to get involved.
Barnsley Women CEO Steve Maddock, who was part of the group who introduced the Emerging Talent Centre Programme to the club in 2022, said: “I am really proud of the pathway we have provided to players over the last three seasons. We have a player who was part of the pathway from our junior set up, to our reserves and ultimately to our first team, which is proof of our vision and what we are trying to achieve.”
“We have a proper structure in place at Barnsley – coaches and facilities in place to try to give our players and our programme a professional outlook. We take this seriously with the people we bring in to the club and the foundations we have here and we want our players on the programme to feel that atmosphere.”
South Yorkshire has a proud history for female football talent, some with a legacy which has lasted for decades. For Barnsely Women and other clubs around the region, a responsibility lies in nurturing the next group of female footballers to represent the region, as generations before have with such pride.
“It is up to clubs like us, Sheffield United, Sheffield FC, Doncaster Rovers Belles and others to create a hotbed for football in South Yorkshire. There are different attractive factors from clubs to players in terms of league status and facilities, and so we must give players the opportunity to express themselves and showcase their talents.
“We try to provide as many opportunities as possible for our players and for the girls on the ETC programme. We have created a new under 21s team, and, from next season, we will have a development centre for the players who don’t make the ETC programme, they will have a chance to play in the hope they make the programme the year after. This is completely off our own backs and is part of our vision to help the development of these girls.”
“I have been involved in football all my life, and I see the women’s game developing more year on year. There’s a platform which is constantly growing for women and girls in the game which means the opportunity for future talent from South Yorkshire is growing.”
Women’s football continues to develop across the region with the promotion and increasing demand for initiatives such as the Emerging Talent Centre. With these development pathways in place, clubs like Barnsley Women, Sheffield United and Doncaster Rovers Belles are leading the way for inclusivity in the women’s game and ensuring pathways and opportunities are available for women and girls of all ages.
The ETC is shaping role models and future stars in one initiative. South Yorkshire women’s football’s core stands with strong foundations for the future, driven by those who believe in it the most.
