Football mad girls in Billericay and Wickford who dream of a professional career in the sport are being urged to sign up to a new football academy.

Thurrock and Basildon College are setting up a new women's squad for school-leavers who want to become professional or semi-professional players or work in football coaching.

Women at the academy will study a BTEC sport and exercise science qualifications as well as receiving intensive coaching and picking up Football Association (FA) qualifications in refereeing, coaching, sports injuries and team management.

Head of sports studies at the college, Matthew Twitchett, said: "Women's football is a growth sport in the UK and we are very excited about this opportunity to develop women's footballing and coaching skills alongside a recognised qualification.

"Very few professional clubs can offer this kind of break to female players and our scheme has the advantage of an academic qualification to fall back on."

The academy is a joint venture between the college and Reid Football Development and Colin Reid will provide all the coaching.

A briefing session is being held at the college's open evening on Wednesday January 15 from 6 to 8pm at the Woodview Campus, Woodview, Grays.

For further information call the college's hotline 0845 6015746.

Published Tuesday, January 14, 2003

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