The F.A., 'We feel confident that the new league structure that will be put into place in Lancashire will be beneficial to sustaining and developing more teams and clubs in the future.'

In light of recent concerns and issues raised by Clubs, as well as local media interest, the following statement from Lancashire F.A. is fully endorsed and supported by The F.A.:

Concept:-

Lancashire F.A. to restructure its existing league to deliver two adult divisions and a new Under 18 division from season 2009/2010. Existing Under 16 provision to be phased out over a two year period with teams being exited into established leagues. This will reduce travel time for teams and girls, allow the County FA to focus resources on the creation of new teams in under provided areas, a new league in an area with no provision, support the four existing leagues to develop its membership and become self sufficient, deliver a detailed School Club Link programme, remove competition between leagues for the same players, apply the principles of Longer Term Player Development (LTPD) and support elite and performance through the centre of excellence.

Rationale:-

- Lancashire F.A. Girls League was formed by the County FA to stimulate the development of girls football across all age groups as a temporary measure thirteen years ago with the aim of it becoming a self sufficient by a Management Committee and administration Committee through the member clubs.
- The County now has 189 Girls Youth teams - its highest level ever and 53 adult teams.
- There is an opinion amongst some clubs that the Lancashire FA league is an elite league - it is not and was never planned to be this way. It was purely a stimulus to provide competition where there had previously been none. Now there are four well established leagues in place which need new teams and to become more self-sufficient.
- That all Girls Leagues achieve Charter Standard League status in three years.
- All elite players play for the centre of excellence and do not compete in existing leagues.
- Commitment to LTPD and implementation of the FA Womens' and Girls' Football Strategy.
- All North West County FA's are undergoing a similar restructure. However, the approaches they take vary as their leagues and girls and womens football is not as established as in Lancashire. Lancashire FA is to be congratulated on taking the initiative to further enhance provision.

Commitment to Girls' and Women's Football:-

- Creation of a new league in Morecambe and Lancaster for new girls teams in an area with no provision.
- Delivery of four School Club Link programmes.
- Development of the Centre of Excellence at Blackburn to become one of the best in England which has established numerous new England internationals at various levels.
- Plan for all Girls Leagues to achieve Charter Standard League status over the next three years.
- Creation of a new Under 18 Division sitting below the County League.
- Provision of Countywide girls only Skills Centres.
- Establishment of intramural league at the University of Central Lancashire, in Preston.

Centre of Excellence:-

It is suggested that the centre is not working. It is. The key issue is that a minority of grassroots clubs fail to promote the centre to the players or encourage them not to join. We find this unacceptable and contrary to LTPD, especially for a Charter Standard club. The centre is the best it has ever been, including:-

- An excellent M&E report in January
- High quality training facilities at Barnoldswick and The Brick
- Produces international players
- Provides a Premier League exit route
- Training twice a week
- Level 3 Head Coaches in every age group
- High level mentoring programme
- Referee Centre of Excellence integrated in order to establish a safe environment for referees to develop
- Sports Science
- Fitness and Conditioning provision
- High quality competition - 20 games planned per season
- Audio visual analysis of every player every week
- Significant financial investment by the club

Additional Information in Response to views of clubs:-

- There is no North West Regional Strategy.
- Manchester FA's approach is to develop girls' football in the same way that Lancashire did 13 years ago in order to stimulate interest in participation through a North and South League, therefore rationalising the existing provision.
- This process is not motivated by a primary desire to enhance the centre of excellence. It is purely to rationalise existing provision, allow the County FA to invest resource elsewhere, grow the number of girls' teams and lead to a more sustainable girls and womens structure.
- Why should girls teams disband? There is now a league for all of them to play, unlike ever before. And elite players can join Blackburn Rovers Centre of Excellence which has a proven track record of delivery.
- We absolutely support Long Term Player Development.
- Lancashire FA continually try to enhance the provision of high quality facilities in the County and have a clear programme of schemes to deliver each year. They are also at the forefront of piloting BSF provision through the scheme at Blackburn which could deliver up to four new 3G pitches - for public use which otherwise would not be