About Us
Graylingwell Girls Football was started in 2022 by Dan Garrod who had a daughter showing all the signs of a budding footballer but who was always held back in mixed gender sessions. Dan after completing a degree in Sport Management & Football studies went on to work around the world coaching youth football sessions, eventually working for professional football clubs training coaches as a Football Development Manager. With some fantastic support from local business Chichester Development Trust -
Graylingwell Girls was born!
Age 4 - 12 years
We take ALL abilities, even girls with absolutely no background in football. The only thing we ask is that your little one is aged 4 -12 years of age. This allows us to plan the session according to age ranges so it's always a fair match.
Learning through FUN
We pride ourselves on being super engaging and uplifting, with the girls having fun at the forefront of our plans. As much as it's a competitive sport, there's nothing that we love to see more than the girls falling about laughing about after one of our infamous warm up games!
Giving girls the experience of a Team Sport
One thing we noticed from our own daughter's experience is that girl's tend to be pigeon holed into clubs that are predominantly solo activities. We believe that playing a team sport holds so much more value than exercise alone. The girls learn communication on the pitch, how to support your team mates through wins and loses, how to work together effectively to reach the same end goal (no pun intended!) and most importantly how to brainstorm a creative group goal celebration!
Session times and locations
Our All Abilities session (ages 4 - 10) is on a Sunday 9.30am-10.30am on the fantastic green space opposite The Pavillion at Graylingwell Park, Chichester. We have toilets, a coffee shop and a park on site meaning any family members coming along to watch will always be entertained!
Our Development Centre (ages 8-12) aimed at older girls is on a Thursday evening 6pm - 6.45pm at The Bishop Otter Campus/Chichester University. Meaning we have flood lights to play in all weathers and levels of light through the winter.
How to book
We use an app called Spond for all our booking and communication. Once you've joined you'll have access to all available sessions where you can book and pay via the app. We have a group chat and message facility so you never miss a thing! Click below to become part of the action...
Parent feedback
Vicky
My daughter age 7 is absolutely full of enthusiam about football. Having watched her older brothers play and then being inspired by the amazing Chloe Kelly and the great Lionesses she really wanted to give football a go. Dan and Megan welcomed her along and really made both her and myself feel very welcome. Her ability isnt always at the same level as her passion but that's not a problem she is learning new things each week with the main focus on football being fun which she loves. Each week she comes away with the biggest smile always having tried her best and enjoying time with her football friends. She absolutely loves it and the added bonus is her football skills are coming along brilliantly too. Thank you to all the girls for welcoming my daughter and for all the work that Coach Dan and Coach Megan do too.
Tiffany
What can I say about Graylingwell girls football team. I heard about the training from a friend but was apprehensive as we’d tried various other clubs and groups all of which my daughter who struggles with anxiety refused to go back to. On the first session coach Dan introduced himself to my daughter and learnt her name, which made her feel already part of it.
As the training sessions have gone on I’ve been so in awe of how he has so many young girls all under control and learning and enjoying football, they’re actually really good.
My daughter has a step sister but predominantly is an only child and as her mum I wanted her to learn to be part of a team and this is always the vibe of the group. She has learnt valuable social skills that are applicable both on and off the pitch. When games are played they always work out their celebration dance, which is so great, it doesn’t matter who scored everyone is part the success.
Meg and Dan as parents themselves have totally got this right, it’s about fun, being a team and developing self confidence, cannot recommend enough!
Shereen
I love how all the girls are treated equally. You arrange matches for all abilities and that's really heartwarming to know no one's confidence is going to be knocked not being selected to play.
My daughter has low self confidence and has done for a long time both in school and outside school but she is really excited every week to come - thank you.
As someone who specialises in education law I don't see many children's sports clubs being focused mainly on healthy fun, confidence, happiness and then the sport. This is such a positive development for many girls, so thank you.
Anna
We came to Graylingwell Girls after our daughter lost her confidence. Dan and the team made her feel really welcome and immediately part of the group. The added bonus of being "captain" for the morning gave her the boost she needed. The sessions are really well thought out and all about participation and inclusion no matter their ability. We love our Sunday morning sessions and are proud to be a part of it!