Central Girls Football Academy

Central Girls Football Academy is a women's football team based in Grangemouth, Central Scotland.

Central Girls
Imagine, Believe, Achieve
Full nameCentral Girls Football Academy
Nickname(s)Central, The Cyan
Founded2014 (2014)
GroundIndodrill Stadium, Alloa[1]
Capacity3,100
Head coachIan Dibdin
LeagueSWPL 2
2017SWFL 1 North, Champions
WebsiteClub website

From 2018, they have been members of the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL), the highest level women's football league in Scotland. They currently compete in its second tier, SWPL2, having won the third-tier Scottish Women's Football League Division 1 North in 2017. The club's motto is "Imagine, Believe, Achieve".[2]

Central also have a team that play in the fourth tier of Scottish women's football in the SWFL2 Central league. The SWFL team play their home games at Inchyra Park, Grangemouth.[3]

History

Foundation

The club was founded by football coach Ian Dibdin. In the early 2000s, whilst working within youth development at Falkirk Football Club under Ian McCall, Dibdin was invited to work on expanding the Falkirk girls section. Under this initiative, Dibdin designed and set up women's programs for Falkirk and Stenhousemuir football clubs. In January 2014, Dibdin founded Central Girls Football Academy.[4][5]

2015–2017

In 2015 the team won the SWFL Division 2 Central and were promoted to the SWFL Division 1 North.[6]

On 5 November 2017, Central beat Inverness 6–0 to win the SWFL North league and gain promotion to the SWPL2 for the 2018 season.[7][8] Central won 17 of their 18 league games,[9] scoring 102 goals and conceding only 18 during the campaign.[10]

2018 (SWPL 2)

During the 2018 SWPL launch, captain Ellie Kane intimated Central intended to challenge for that years SWPL2 title.[11] On 11 February, Central began the campaign with a 3–1 win away to St Johnstone.[12]

In April 2018, Central midfielder, Chelsea McEachran won the first SWPL Player of the Month award of 2018 for February/March at only 15 years of age.[13]

In July 2018, Central captain Ellie Kane and midfielder Kim McAlpine left the club to take up university scholarships in the United States. Both spoke highly of Central coach Ian Dibdin with McAlpine stating she hoped to return to Central after her four-year scholarship to Carson–Newman University, Tennessee. Kane left for University of South Alabama, also on a four-year scholarship.[14][15][16]

Youth and development

The club has had considerable success at youth level, winning many titles.[17][18]

In 2014 the Central Under-14 team won the UK Championships.[19] In 2015, the Central Under-15 team won the Scottish Cup when they beat Glasgow City 5–0.[20] In 2016 the team won UK Championships again at Under-16 and Under-17 level.[19]

Eight players of the 2017 SWFL winning team played in and won the Under-14 UK Championship in July 2014.[21]

In July 2018 Central won the Under-15 UK Championship. The win gave Central a UK Championship haul with titles at U14, U15, U16 & U17 level.[22] Later in the same month, the under-15 team also won the Home International Coalfields Cup held in Kelty, Fife. The team beat Boroughmuir Thistle 3–1 in the final, on 30 July 2018.[23]

Matchday programme

The Central Girls Football Academy SWPL Match Day programme is called View from the Centre. Each edition contains match reports, player profiles, league updates and opposition news.[2]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  SCO Sarah King
2 DF  SCO Zoe Young
3 DF  SCO Sophie Mauriello
5 DF  SCO Shaney McCabe
18 DF  SCO Emma McMurdo
4 MF  SCO Megan Gallagher
6 MF  SCO Kim McAlpine
No. Pos. Nation Player
7 MF  SCO Ellie Kane (captain)
10 MF  SCO Chelsea McEachran
11 MF  SCO Monica Anderson
8 FW  SCO Abby Callaghan
9 FW  SCO Morgan Cross
15 FW  SCO Naomi Welch
16 FW  SCO Jade Lockie

Source:[24]

Personnel
Club Manager:Ian Dibdin
Senior Team Coach:Adam Young
Senior Team Coaching Staff:Ian Dibdin / Kenny McAlpine / Adam Young (Jnr)
SWFL Team Coach:Darren Dibdin
SWFL Team Coaching Staff:Ian Dibdin / Mark Lenathen
Goalkeeping Coach:Davie King
Secretary:Mark Lenathen
Club Sponsor:Fitzsimons Chartered Accountants
Kit Manufacturer:Uhlsport / Adidas
Senior Team Sponsor:Baberton Solutions
SWFL Team Sponsor:MSL (Scotland) Ltd

Source:[25]

Honours
Central Girls F.A. honours
Honour No. Years
SWFL Division 2 Central[6][26] 1 2015
SWFL Division 1 North[27] 2 2017

References
  1. "Central Girls FA — Scottish Building Society Scottish Women's Premier League". womenspremierleague.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  2. http://www.centralfootballacademy.co.uk/about-us
  3. "SWFL Division 2 – Central – Scottish Womens Football". scotwomensfootball.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  4. 1, YFS Editor. "Live Debate Show – Girls & women's football (13th March)". Retrieved 17 November 2017.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. Brown, Adam. "Central Football Academy continues expansion into boys' football". Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  6. "Latest News – Central Football Academy". www.clubwebsite.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  7. "SWFL Division 1 – North | Scottish Womens Football". scotwomensfootball.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. "Central Girls FA And Kilmarnock Stretch SWFL Leads – She Kicks Women's Football Magazine". She Kicks Women's Football Magazine. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  9. "SWFL Division 1 – North – Scottish Womens Football". scotwomensfootball.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  10. "Summary – SWFL 1 – Scotland – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  11. "#SBSSWPL 2018 LAUNCH Ellie Kane – Central GIrls". Scottish Women's Football. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018 – via YouTube.
  12. "St. Johnstone vs. Central Girls – 11 February 2018 – Women Soccerway". uk.women.soccerway.com. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  13. "Scottish women's player of the month is 15-year-old Chelsea McEachran". 12 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  14. "Central Academy's Ellie set for Alabama adventure". falkirkherald.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  15. "Kim excited about new venture as US trip closes in". falkirkherald.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  16. "Grangemouth girls set for States after scholarships". falkirkherald.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  17. Wilson, Robert. "Summer of success continues for Central Girls". youthfootballscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  18. Rabanni, Ameen. "Goals galore as Central Girls FA secure SWF West Region League Cup". youthfootballscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  19. "Pitchero Aces Nationals – Hall of fame Pitchero ACES Nationals 2017". acesfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  20. Brockett, David. "Match analysis: Central Girls FA v Glasgow City FC 15's". youthfootballscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  21. "Central Girls Football Academy side crowned UK champions". www.falkirkherald.co.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  22. "Pitchero Aces Nationals – Hall of fame Pitchero ACES Nationals 2017". acesfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  23. "Coalfields Home International Cup 2018 – Jax Mc Media Women's Football Results – Scotland – Jax Mc Media". Jax Mc Media Women's Football Results – Scotland – Jax Mc Media. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  24. "Central Football Academy – Senior Squad". centralfootballacademy.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  25. "Central Football Academy – Contact Us". centralfootballacademy.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  26. "Homepage – Central Girls Football Academy". www.clubwebsite.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  27. "Central Girls FA And Kilmarnock Stretch SWFL Leads – She Kicks Women's Football Magazine". shekicks.net. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
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