Wst Ldn Shields Football

Who are we?

We are a new women's football team dedicated to women who may be struggling with mild mental health struggles, confidence, lack of fitness or those just wanting to get back into the game. Myself, Natalie, Joelle, and Monica decided to create a team in October 2022 due to the lack of football opportunities in the West London area for casual football for women of all abilities. The founding members of this team have all experienced significant mental health struggles and found that playing football really helped to manage these issues. We wanted to deliver this to other women who needed a place where they could forget the day to day struggles, play football, keep fit. have a laugh and make some new friends. We started with 6 players in October '22 and now in Feb' 23, we have a group of 22, which continues to grow, due to the demand for a project like this. 

Why are we crowdfunding?

We started with no funds at all and our head coach paid for the pitch. We eventually got a sponsorship from a local West London design company, Studio Twenty7, who paid back the money for the pitch hire. We are joining a league soon and also participating in the grenfell memorial cup game in May and have been in contact with icarusfc.com to help design a kit for us, we wanted something that shows the Shields on the pattern as we shield mental health through football, but something that made a stand for us as a team for mental health, icarus have kindly designed our kit and given us a good discount as much as they possibly can however its still costly and we want our women to feel comfortable in a kit we have all had an input in. 

How you can play your part?

We know these sessions have become an important part of the women's lives. The exercise and bonds the players have formed have very much become something used as an escape from normal life stresses. Exercise is a fundamental part of keeping yourself well and we encourage everyone to find what they love (or used to) love and do it (return to it).

We welcome players from all areas and of all abilities. We especially welcome those that have had a break from playing or have not played for a long time. We know women, especially, have had to give up sport to raise families or for their careers so we love to see women return to the sport, who clearly once loved to play. Having children, or having a career should never be a barrier for any women to access a sport they love to do. 

How we’ll spend the money raised

The money will go on full kit for every one of the women who have joined our session and who have continued to commit to training.

The kits will be worn in the league we have entered  and at the charity tournament we are playing in May of this year. Any company who donates to cover the full kit cost will he featured on our social media page, where we continue to promote our brand.

FOOTBALL KITS/KIT PRINTING= £770

TOTAL:                                    £770

Photo: WST LDN SHIELDS first friendly match

Community impact

Our aim is to help women use exercise and movement to to help enhance their mental health, I speak from my own experience where in 2018 I was hospitalised and medicated and felt I hit rock bottom after lock down. I found Natalie, Monica and Jojo and we set the team up. I've never felt better, my concentration is better and i'm dedicated to helping other women or girls in a similar situation to myself. I am no longer medicated and use my love for coaching and playing football, to maintain my mental health. If we can grow and make football accessible to more women, that would be amazing. We would love to be able to train more then one day a week and spreading the session out for everyone to fit into their schedule. Before we started there was not a lot of opportunities in West/Central London for women like myself. If I can see a change in myself, I would love to spread that and help others in my community. Exercise and regular physical movement have a great impact on mental and social health but also enhance vitality, self confidence and this can only filter down and have a positive effect on the wider community. This project aims to create a football family where players can use football development to bring all these positive aspect into their lives. Women especially don't always find the time to do things they consider 'self care' and that includes exercise. We hope these football sessions will be the space women can take the time for themselves and be their own priority for once.