Delivered in partnership with The Football Association, Save All Shots GK Academy and Place Partnership's football development team, the event focused on creating opportunities for girls of all abilities to experience football in a fun, supportive and inclusive environment. Through a series of engaging coaching stations, participants developed their goalkeeping skills, challenged themselves and discovered the enjoyment of playing one of football's most important positions.

The event highlighted the importance of providing accessible opportunities for girls at every stage of their football journey. Among those taking part were players already representing grassroots clubs, girls whose football experience had previously been limited to school sport, and others who were trying football for the very first time. By bringing together participants with different levels of experience, the festival helped create an environment where every girl felt welcomed, encouraged and empowered to get involved.

A key feature of the day was the involvement of female students from the Trust’s Football Scholarship Programme, who volunteered as coaches and mentors throughout the event. Acting as positive role models, the scholars shared their passion for the game while demonstrating the exciting opportunities available to young women through football. Their support helped younger pupils see a clear pathway for continued participation and development within the sport.

Thanks to funding secured through the programme, every participant also received a pair of goalkeeping gloves and a football to take home, helping them continue practising, developing their skills and building confidence beyond the event itself.

The initiative reflects Place Partnership's wider commitment to removing barriers, promoting equality of opportunity and ensuring that every young person has access to high-quality sporting experiences that support their personal growth and development.

“Opportunities like this are vital in helping more girls access football and develop confidence in a specialist position. Goalkeeping can often be a role that players are hesitant to try, but by creating a fun, supportive environment and providing positive experiences, we can inspire more girls to get involved and continue their football journey. It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm, energy and willingness to learn throughout the day.”

Harry Watson — Women's Goalkeeping Talent Coach at The Football Association

At Place Partnership, we're committed to creating opportunities that make sport accessible to everyone. This event wasn't just about developing goalkeeping skills; it was about building confidence, breaking down barriers and showing young girls that there is a place for them in football. Having our female football scholars supporting the event made a huge impact, providing inspiring role models and demonstrating the opportunities that can be achieved through dedication and participation in sport.

Place Partnership will continue to expand opportunities for young people across its family of academies. Initiatives such as this play an important role in ensuring more girls feel confident, supported and inspired to get involved in football, both in school and within their local communities.