The FA joins forces with Top Baller League to find future stars of the game | OneFootball

The FA has partnered with Top Baller League to deliver a four-part event to discover and support the future stars of the women’s game.

At its core, the collaboration aims to open up England and club talent pathways to the next generation. Particularly those who may not have been traditionally scouted. The goal is to engage 500 young girls aged 12-15 from every culture, community and background.

Across the four events, young girls will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in a high-energy and supportive environment that celebrates creativity and individuality.

Talent searching across the country

Each talent ID event will take place in cities across England, starting on March 30th in London. Followed by events in Leeds and Leicester respectively.

The partnership will culminate with a finale held at the home of England international teams, St. George’s Park. Here, the best ballers will have the chance to show their talent in front of FA coaches and scouts.

“Top Baller and The FA are highlighting that incredible footballing talent can be found anywhere, from the streets to the cages to the clubs,” said Top Baller League Founder, Manuel Silva.

What will the sessions look like?

The events will host high-intensity 1v1 and 5v5 matchups. They will also incorporate skill challenges to gauge technical abilities of the players.

The message of the events is simple: ‘Step onto the pitch and let the football do the talking.’

Last summer saw the event piloted in north London, with over 150 aspiring players attending, many of whom had never engaged with talent pathways before. A huge success saw the FA welcome 18 of the 150 attendees into the selection pool for England’s development teams.

‘Regardless of where they come from, there is a route into the England talent pathway’

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Emma Jenks, Head of Women’s Talent at the FA, said: “This partnership is all about widening our reach and removing barriers to entry to ensure that every young talented player sees that there is a route into the England and Club talent pathway.

“By working with Top Baller, we are opening up more entry points for us to connect with players and families who may not have previously engaged in the system. Together, we’re helping shape a more inclusive future for the women’s game.”

Manuel Silva, added: “We’re excited to grow this partnership, taking opportunities to young girls across the country and show them that regardless of where they come from, there is a route for them into the England talentpathway.”

For more information about the upcoming talent events, visit the Top Baller League website.

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