• EE launches new Just For Kicks initiative – free football taster sessions for women and girls hosted at six of EE’s connected clubs across the Home Nations
• Off the back of a memorable summer for women’s football, EE is welcoming women and girls aged between 16 and 24 of any ability, to try out the sport for free with coaching from legends of each home nation’s international team
• Aspiring players can register online from Wednesday 31^st August
• As the lead partner of the Home Nations football associations for over two years, EE use the power of football and technology to break down barriers across the UK, with women’s football being a key focus

Wednesday 31^st August, 2022: EE, the UK’s best network and lead partner of the Home Nations Football Associations, today unveils Just For Kicks – an initiative that will see free, fun football taster sessions for women and girls take place at six of EE’s Connected Clubs across the Home Nations throughout September and October.

After a summer that saw Home Nation success during the Women’s European Championships, with 17.4 million viewers tuning in to watch England’s victory in the final, Just For Kicks hopes to continue to inspire a new generation of female footballers across the nation.

Open to women and girls aged 16 – 24, each taster session will include a variety of tips and tricks to help new and experienced players up their games and improve their performance. From fun ice breakers to skills and technique training, there is something for every footballer-in-training. Plus, all participants will be able to put their new skills into practice during match play.

Each of the two-hour long sessions will be led by local coaches, with the first sessions at each club supported by a legend of each country’s women’s national team. Aspiring players looking to join a football community near them can sign-up online for free at any of the following, depending on their location (Northern Ireland/Scotland/Wales/England –Petts Wood and Merseyrail Ladies).

Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at EE said: “At EE, we understand how important grassroots football clubs are across the Home Nations, and we want everyone to feel welcome at our Connected Clubs. The Lionesses have helped to inspire a new generation of women and girls to consider playing football, and as lead partner to the Home Nation FAs, we wanted to play our part in creating welcoming spaces for these aspiring players to try out or even get back into the sport.

Just For Kicks is all about bringing these players together and giving them an opportunity to try the game for themselves. As community hubs filled with all the tools and connectivity required to be successful training facilities, our Connected Clubs are a fantastic place for women and girls to start their football journey.”

Lauren Hemp, England international, said: “The women’s game has come so far in recent years. After a memorable summer for women’s football, EE’s new Just For Kicks initiative is another great way for women and girls who might be new to football to get out on the pitch and give it a try. Hopefully they begin a lifelong relationship with the sport bringing them health, happiness and friendships.”

For over two years, EE has used the power of football and technology to break down barriers to improve digital, education and footballing skills in communities across the UK whilst creating a network of hundreds of grassroots football clubs across the Home Nations. A key focus for this strategy is to improve the women’s game and inspire a new generation of girls and women to participate in football, on and off the pitch.

In July, EE revealed its Hope United squad, a team of footballers committed to combatting online sexist hate ahead of this summer’s UEFA Women’s European Championships with a series of digital skills on how to take a stand against the problem. EE Hope United aims to help shape a safer online world, giving others the confidence and knowhow to help call out and put a stop to online sexist hate.

Just For Kicks opens the doors of EE’s Connected Clubs to aspiring players across the Home Nations from 17^th September. Sign-up online for free at (Northern Ireland/Scotland/Wales/England –Petts Wood and Merseyrail Ladies).

Just For Kicks will take place at the following Connected Clubs on these dates:

·       Petts Wood FC (England) 24^th September/ 1^st October/ 8^th October

·       Merseyrail Ladies FC (England) 17^th September/ second and third dates TBC

·       Kinmel Bay (Wales) 18^th/ 25^th September/ 2^nd October

·       Pollok United (Scotland) 18^th/25^th September and 2^nd October

·       Broxburn United (Scotland) 5^th/12^th/19^th October

·       Lurgan Town (N. Ireland) 25^th September/ 2^nd/ 9^th October

ENDS

Connecting grassroots football

For over two years EE has united the Home Nations using the power of football and technology to break down barriers to improve digital, education and footballing skills in communities across the UK, creating a network of hundreds of grassroots football clubs across the Home Nations. A key focus for this strategy is to improve the women’s game and inspire a new generation of girls and women to participate in football, on and off the pitch.

About EE

EE runs the UK’s biggest and fastest mobile network, offering superfast connections in more places than any other operator. EE brought the first 4G network to the UK in October 2012, and launched the UK’s first 5G network in May 2019.

EE has received extensive independent recognition, including being named the UK’s no.1 5G network by RootMetrics® in 2020 and 2021, and the UK’s best network every year since 2014 for the following awards: The Mobile Choice Awards, The Mobile Industry Awards and by RootMetrics®.

As well as delivering mobile services to consumers, small and medium businesses, corporate customers and Government programmes, EE also provides home and business broadband using both 4G and fixed line connections.

EE is committed to being number one for service in the industry, and has nearly 600 shops across the UK. EE remains the only mobile provider to answer 100% of customer calls in the UK and Ireland and was recognised as the UK’s Best Large Contact Centre by the UK Customer Experience Awards 2018 and Welsh Contact Centre Awards 2019. EE was awarded The Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work for in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named Best Employer 2018 by the European Contact Centre & Customer Service awards.

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Source: EE Newsroom
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