CLARE BALDING kick-starts an initiative to support young people’s careers in the football industry

Mums Tips

Fitness & Health

Published on Sunday, 03 February 2013 09:00

Last Updated on 03 February 2013

Monica Costa

1 Comment

Last year’s sporting success had a real impact on young people’s perceptions of female athletes. So Clare Balding has now kick-started npower What’s Your Goal?, an initiative that offers young people once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the football industry. Clare is leading an exclusively female line up of 11 inspirational and successful women currently working within the football industry who will act as mentors.

The campaign is designed to encourage more girls (but not only girls) to think about a career in the football industry, but also highlight the fact that boys can learn just as much by learning from a female role models from the world of football and sport.

For the 2013 campaign, Clare Balding has joined forces with high profile female professionals who have shot to the top of their game and enjoyed success within the world of football. The likes of Jacqui Oatley and Kelly Smith will join Clare in a bid to encourage more girls and boys to think about a career in the nation’s favourite sport and to continue to boost the profile of sportswomen in the UK, following the success of last year’s Games.

Clare Balding and the What’s Your Goal? mentors will showcase the vast and varied jobs available to young people, both on and off the football pitch, demonstrating the range of employment opportunities available for both men and women alike.

Working in partnership with The Football League, npower is searching for a ‘dream team’ of 11 ambitious and enthusiastic youngsters to spend a day being mentored by one of the successful sportswomen who have come on board to offer their time, knowledge, and support to the programme, offering them invaluable experience.

Having demonstrated why they should be chosen for one of the coveted roles with a CV and video application, the 11 lucky youngsters will be thrown straight into the action. One budding commentator will get to give their play-by-play account of the match alongside Jacqui Oatley at the Championship Play-off Final, while another will learn what it takes to be a top TV presenter with Clare Balding. Other roles up for grabs include reporting on all the action with Daily Mail sports reporter Laura Williamson and receiving first class professional football training with Arsenal Ladies and Team GB’s Kelly Smith.

In addition, young people can also get the chance to shadow: Everton U17s Ladies Manager Mo Marley, Sheffield United Goalkeeping Coach Leanne Hall, Exercise Scientist for Birmingham Ladies Ellie Maybury, Sports Photographer Georgie Gillard, The Football League’s most senior female referee Sasa Ihringova, MD at St George’s Park Julie Harrington and Ipswich FC Sales Manager Rosie Richardson.

Clare Balding says:

“2012 was an amazing year for sporting achievement in the UK, especially for women, so I am delighted that npower will be continuing to keep up the momentum in 2013 and championing female athletes with What’s Your Goal?.

“Football is one of the most popular sport for women, yet it is still perceived to be a man’s game, which is why it is important that young people have strong female role models to look up to who inspire them to kick-start their careers. We are looking for 11 youngsters to take up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and apply for one of the many roles on offer.

“During my career as a TV presenter, I have been privileged to present some of the world’s best sporting events. I am looking forward to mentoring a young person and providing them with invaluable, first-hand experience in the world of sport.”

Giving more young people across the UK a chance to try something new, What’s Your Goal? 2013 will work with all 72 clubs in The Football League to offer over 350 valuable work experience placements to students in Years 10 – 11 in their local areas, with an exciting and unique opportunity at Leyton Orient FC.

Students in Years 7 – 11 are invited to apply for the chance to spend a day shadowing one of the high profile experts such as Clare Balding, by simply filling out a job application which is downloadable at www.npower.com/whatsyourgoal. Deadline for entries is 1st March 2013.

Picture caption: Clare Balding is leading an exclusively female line-up of sporting stars to launch the npower What’s Your Goal? campaign. The eleven national mentors include: Clare Balding, TV Presenter; Jacqui Oatley, Sports Commentator; Kelly Smith, Professional Football Player; Mo Marley, Manager; Leanne Hall, Goalkeeping Coach; Laura Williamson, Sports Journalist; Georgie Gillard, Sports Photographer; Ellie Maybury, Exercise Scientist; Sasa Ihringova, Referee; Julie Harrington, MD at St George’s Park; Rosie Richardson, Sales Manager.