In 2022, Forest Green Rovers in partnership with Hartpury University and College were among the 70 clubs and organisations to be granted a three-year licence to run an FA girls Emerging Talent Centre (ETC). Our ETC runs from U9s through to U14s. In addition to our ETC, we will also run an U16 squad next season (two-year age band U15/U16).
Last summer, we welcomed over 400 trialists to our summer selection events, and expect interest to be of similar levels this year.
The FA’s Emerging Talent Centre programme is designed to make elite coaching programmes more accessible. Players are encouraged to continue training and playing with their local clubs, but receive additional high-level coaching and access to additional high-level game opportunities at our ETC.
Last season, our ETC age groups enjoyed between six and 10 games each across the season. Games are typically organised in half-terms/holidays so that they do not interfere with grassroots fixture schedules.
Our coaching sessions will take place on Thursday evenings on the 3G pitch at Hartpury University and College (10 minutes north of Gloucester city centre).
Our U11s-U16s age groups will also have the opportunity to access a strength and conditioning session (Wednesday evenings), in partnership with Hartpury College and University, this is free of charge and runs for around 30 weeks of the year.
In addition to our ETC (which caters for U9s - U14s), we will also be running an U16s squad. This two-year banded age group (U15s/U16s) will be entered into a local league, and have a Saturday games programme.
To keep the quality of the programme as high as possible, we are looking for the very best female players in the region.
Our trial period will take place between June 15 and July 11. You can register your daughter for the trials here.
Applications will close on Tuesday, May 28, and please note due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to guarantee a trial to every applicant, however you will be contacted either way between the May 29 and the June 4.
For players older than 16, there will be a separate online form to register expressions of interest for our development and senior squads, this will be published in the coming weeks.
