National Girls Football Competition

The first ever national Army Cadet Force football competition for girls was hailed a success after an exciting day of football in Nottinghamshire.

The six-a-side competition at Dayncourt School, Radcliffe-on-Trent, featured teams from seven of the ten regions that nationally make up the Army Cadet Force, including teams from Northern Ireland and Wales.

There were two competitions, a Junior Competition for girls under 15 years of age and a Senior Competition for girls over 15. Nottinghamshire Army Cadet Force Girl's team who won the Regional Finals represented the Eastern Region with a Junior and Senior team.

All games were hotly contested with high levels of skill and commitment. In the Senior Final North West Region played Eastern Region, with the North West wining 2-1 and becoming National Champions. In the Junior Final, Eastern Region overcame North East Region 3-1 to become the first Junior National Champions, with 14 year old Rebecca McKay from Carlton Detachment, D Squadron, receiving the Junior Player of the Day award - a signed Forest shirt.

The event was attended by VIPs including the Mayor of Rushcliffe Borough Council, Councillor Barrie Cooper who presented medals and trophies to the Junior Girls winners and runners up; the High Sheriff of Nottingham, Colonel Roger Merryweather and Major General Malcolm Wood CBE, Chairman of the Army Cadet Force Association, who presented medals and trophies to the Senior Girls winners and runners up.

"It was a great honour to host the first ever national football competition for girls for the Army Cadet Force," said Colonel Nigel Rippon, Commandant of Nottinghamshire Army Cadet Force.

"Football is a very popular activity for cadets and both competitions were keenly contested and played in the right spirit and sportsmanship. It was a great day of sport. I would also like to thank Dayncourt School for making their football pitches and sports hall available for the competition and to Nottingham Forest and Mansfield Town football clubs who donated prizes for the competition," added Colonel Rippon.