ONE of Reading’s largest youth football clubs, Caversham AFC, is launching its development centre for girls under the age of eight.

The new scheme kicks off at Highdown School, in Surley Row, Emmer Green, on Sunday, April 2. and is part of Caversham AFC’s growing female set-up.

The club already has 150 female players and chairman Rob Crowland said it wanted to encourage more girls to play at a younger age.

The development centre is being supported by Reading FC Community Trust and is for girls in reception through to year three – the equivalent of under 5s to under 8s.

Chairman Rob Crowland said: “The game is enjoying a huge growth for girls and women, at all levels and the FA have promised to double the participation by 2020.

“We’re a growing, community-focussed club and it is the natural next step for us to offer fun football coaching sessions for any girls from north Reading and south Oxfordshire who want to take their first steps in football.”

“We’ve been successful at creating girls teams at age 10 and older but we are really keen to have girls learning to love the game from age 5 so the girls development centre is an important step for the club. “ “With the support of Reading FC Community Trust we can offer a development centre specifically for girls to create an environment for them to enjoy football from an early age.”

The development centre will be run by female qualified coaches from Reading FC Community Trust, with the support of Caversham AFC’s FA Licensed Coaches.

Sessions are between 9.30am and 10.30am every Sunday – except Easter Sunday – at Highdown.

Caversham AFC has 40 teams, 650 players and has earned FA Charter Standard Community Club status.

For more information you can email swans@cavershamafc.co.uk or call The Club Secretary on 07825 510067.