South West Suffolk Barclays Girl’s Football Schools Partnership launches ‘boot libraries’ to help increase equal access to sport across Sudbury area

When the Lionesses achieved their famous success at the Women’s Euros 18 months ago, one of the main goals set in the aftermath was to open access to football for girls nationwide.

Since then, participation levels have soared – but the biggest barrier to equal access for girls remains the lack of football boots.

That is the message from the South West Suffolk Barclays Girl’s Football Schools Partnership, which is now seeking to build ‘boot libraries’ at schools across the Sudbury area.

Formed in collaboration with the Football Association (FA) to improve accessibility to football in schools, the partnership has found that many girls who may wish to play are still unable to do so, simply because they do not have the right footwear.

Lisa Dalton, the partnership’s strategic lead and the school games organiser for South West Suffolk, said they are now working with Football Rebooted, which provides free collection boxes to store donated boots.

“A major barrier to girls playing football is a lack of boots,” she told SuffolkNews. “It seems normal for boys to have them and girls not.

“The FA has invested a lot to help girls have equal access to football, not only in PE but also in after school clubs. They want 100 per cent of girls to have access, but you can’t go on to the pitches without studs.

“What we’ve found is that parents tend not to buy girls boots, so they don’t have the opportunity they might like. Parents are reluctant to purchase expensive footwear that may only be used briefly.

“I started collecting smaller sized boots to help primary schools build football boot libraries – where girls can take a pair and, if they decide they don’t need them or outgrow them, they are returned or swapped.”

So far, she says, the primary schools in Glemsford and Great Waldingfield have established sustainable libraries of football boots, while Pot Kiln and Wells Hall are progressing with their collections.

A boot donations box is also in place at Great Cornard Leisure Centre, in addition to collections being run by AFC Sudbury and Maxim Sports Coaching.

Mrs Dalton, who is based at Thomas Gainsborough School in Great Cornard, added: “I really like the idea of a boot library. The schools I’ve been talking to say it has been really successful.

“We’re asking people to donate any unwanted or outgrown boots.

“I don’t mind how people get the boots to us. I’ll pick them up from their doorstep if I have to but, of course, if people have any boots to donate, they can just take to them to their local school.

“For me, it’s really lovely, because it helps girls who probably want to play football, but can’t because they feel they can’t join in.

“We’re developing ways to help girls be more confident to say ‘I can play’, or otherwise set up their own group.”

Anybody wishing to make a donation of boots is encouraged to send an email footballbootstodonate @gmail.com.

The appeal for boots comes ahead of a special public event at the AFC Sudbury’s ground in Brundon Lane later this month, aimed specifically at promoting girl’s football.

Organised alongside the Suffolk FA, the community event will run from 10am to noon on Friday, January 26.