Young Lionesses’ new club roaring for Swindon

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

A Swindon girls’ football club described as the biggest in Wiltshire welcomes new members.

Nalgo Swindon Lionesses, based at the Nalgo Sports girls squad, playing against boys in a male-dominated league, were difficult, but they persevered.

“The girls would come back disapoointed,” said Mr Pearce, and some would decide it wasn’t for them and go off and do

& Leisure Club in Cricklade Road, caters for team age ranges from under-eights to under-13s.

It already has about 80 members and fields some eight teams but aims to field 10 or more.

The club has its origins in teams founded by chairman and head coach Gary Pearce some six years ago, following daughter Isla’s experiences in a footballing world which at that time was even more male dominated than it is now.

“My daughter wanted to play football,” said Mr Pearce, “but not with the boys because they would never pass to her.”

The club was part of Stratton Juniors, but about a month ago became Nalgo Swindon Lionesses.

The early days of the all- something else.

“But as time went on, they were loving it, and when we did manage to go to a girls only league they were so strong.”

Success for the new club was not long in coming, with the under-12s scoring a league championship victory.

The club plays in the county’s women’s and girls’ league.

Nalgo Swindon Lionesses are looking for more girls to join its teams, and there are also various sponsorship opportunities for companies interested in supporting girls’ football.

Further information about the club can be found by searching for Nalgo Swindon Lionesses on Facebook.

Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer

I’m gaining a taste of what it must be like to support a normal football club in the summer - boring.

The only current action at The County Ground is the tumbleweed rolling across the facility. But that’s perfectly fine because unlike the previous Wild Wests of summers, Swindon will be in a good position to begin preseason.

Usually in years gone by I pen this column in the midst of a summer crisis for STFC. It can range from having a handful of contracted players, ownership problems, or being managerless.

This summer, Swindon are enjoying swimming in calmer waters. Michael Flynn, after taking over as