A girls’ football team from Cotgrave is celebrating a successful start to the season after securing two wins from three away fixtures in its new kit, funded by regional homebuilder Allison Homes East Midlands

As International Day of the Girl Child approaches on 11th October, Cotgrave Girls Under 12s are highlighting the confidence, friendships and opportunities grassroots football can provide for young girls.

The homebuilder funded the team’s new away kit for the 2026/27 season, providing shirts, shorts and socks for all 16 players. The sponsorship supports a local club close to its Hayes View development in Cotgrave and reflects its ongoing commitment to the communities in which it builds.

International Day of the Girl Child, organised by the United Nations, recognises girls’ rights and provides an opportunity to amplify their voices. To mark the occasion, Emily Corlett, Ella Mae Brindley, Raia Holvey and Matilda White have shared what being part of girls’ football means to them, from building friendships and confidence to following their dreams.

Karl Edwards, Managing Director at Allison Homes East Midlands, said: “It means a great deal to us to support Cotgrave Girls Under 12s, and it’s been fantastic to hear directly from the players about the confidence, friendships and life lessons they’ve gained through football. International Day of the Girl Child is about championing girls’ rights and ensuring their voices are heard, and grassroots clubs like this give girls the chance to develop both on and off the pitch.”

For midfielder Ella Mae Brindley, football has taught her the importance of teamwork, friendship and perseverance.

She said: “I love playing centre midfield because I always have a ball at my feet and me and the other centre mids work together to help each other and the team.

“Football has taught me that you’re not always going to win, but if we try our hardest each week, we will improve. You cannot do things on your own, you need teammates and coaches to help achieve anything.”

When asked what she would say to another girl who felt nervous about joining a team, Ella Mae added: “Everyone’s nervous when you first join, but once you get to know the team and make friends with them, you will love it.”

The friendships formed through football were a recurring theme among the players. Emily Corlett said the best thing about being part of a girls’ football team is “getting to play football with other girls and have fun with my friends”, while Matilda White is looking forward to making more memories with her teammates throughout the season.

Matilda said: “We have a trip in May to Filey where we get to stay over and spend loads of time with my friends and hopefully win some trophies.”

The players also highlighted the importance of ensuring girls have equal opportunities to participate in sport.

Emily said: “I think girls should have the same opportunities as boys. Some people think football is mainly a boys’ sport, but a lot of girls enjoy playing it too. I think it’s important that girls have the chance to play football and other sports they enjoy.”

Goalkeeper Raia Holvey is inspired by her dad, her coach and England captain Leah Williamson, who she admires for following her childhood ambition of becoming a professional footballer.

Reflecting on International Day of the Girl Child, Raia said: “Being able to follow my dreams means doing what I truly love without limitation.”

Her message to other girls is simple: “Never give up!”

Manager Ben Gathercole has witnessed first-hand the impact that being part of a grassroots team can have on young girls.

He said: “Playing football helps girls develop resilience, teamwork, leadership skills and the confidence to challenge themselves in new situations. Learning how to win, lose and work towards goals are valuable life skills that stay with them well into adulthood.

“Whether it’s learning a new skill, scoring a goal, making a tackle or simply improving week by week, those small successes give girls a real sense of accomplishment. Over time, they begin to recognise their own strengths and become more confident both on and off the pitch.”

Looking to the future, Ben hopes continued support and investment will help girls’ football go from strength to strength.

He added: “Increased financial support at grassroots level, along with contributions from sponsors such as Allison Homes, can make a huge difference. Investment like this helps provide access to essential equipment, kits, coaching and facilities, ensuring more girls have the opportunity to get involved and stay involved in the sport.

“Ultimately, my hope is that playing football becomes a normal, accessible option for every girl who wants to participate.”

Allison Homes East Midlands’ Hayes View development, located on Colston Gate in Cotgrave, is a thoughtfully designed new community delivering 45 energy-efficient three and four bedroom homes.

To find out more about Hayes View, visit https://allison-homes.co.uk/development/hayes-view/ or call the sales team on 0115 704 2674. The marketing suite is open Thursday to Monday, from 10am to 5pm.