A Derbyshire company which is committed to encouraging more women into science, has
set a new goal – sponsoring two all-girl football teams.
Lubrizol, based in Hazelwood, is donating a total of £600 to Pride Park FC’s under nine’s and eight’s team and Allenton United FC’s under 13’s team to help the budding footballers hit the pitch running now lockdown has been eased.
The £350 donation made to Pride Park FC was used towards the cost of 20 new rain jackets, featuring Lubrizol’s logo, which will be worn by the girls during training and match days.
Meanwhile, Allenton United FC used its £250 donation towards purchasing winter training attire for its under 13’s Aces, who are a new team for this season and will be playing in a boys’ league a year older than them.
Pride Park FC with one of their new rain jackets.
Founded in 2002 with just a single group of boys, Pride Park FC now boasts a girls’ team for under eights, nines, 10s and 12s, as well as a ladies’ team, all of which play in the Derbyshire Girls and Ladies Leagues.
The next generation of Alex Scott’s train at Moorway’s Stadium, in Allenton, which is where most of the players are drawn from, while the other team members come from Derby and the surrounding areas – although, one keen player travels all the way from Liverpool.
Allenton FC was founded in 2003 with just one senior team playing in the local East Midland’s senior league and now, eight years on, it is home to 14 teams – including the all-girl Aces team.
Lubrizol worker Zandra Reid, whose daughter is an eager player for the Aces team at Allenton FC, said: “The club is very appreciative of the donation. It’s been great to be able to buy the girls new training attire and ensure they’re in tip-top shape for when they can get back into the game.
“Lubrizol is very keen to support young talent, as well as diversity and inclusivity, so this was a great way for the company to get involved.”
David Kwiatek, secretary for Pride Park FC, said: “We are extremely grateful for the support of Lubrizol, enabling us to provide the girls with rain jackets.
“We wanted the girls to feel confident when they got back into training following lockdown. It’s really important to us to make football as accessible, and inclusive, as possible, so receiving that extra support for the girls’ team is brilliant.”
Simon Evans, of Lubrizol, said: “This initiative is one of many that Lubrizol is involved in which are in keeping with our goals of bridging gaps and making sports more accessible to a more diverse and inclusive set of participants.
“We will continue to invest in our communities, and in particular young people, to ensure they have access to opportunities which will lead to a healthier lifestyle.”
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