New partnership for women and girls football in Staffordshire
Women’s and girls’ football in Staffordshire has scored a new partnership to grow the number of teams and matches, increase skills and confidence amongst young people for the future – and highlight water-saving action to help the planet.
National business water retailer Water Plus has become the official partner of Staffordshire Girls and Ladies Football League (SGLFL), after work this year saw it deliver water-savings at football grounds and businesses in Staffordshire.
It sees additional referees being trained and more opportunities for young people to play sport in Staffordshire, through growing grassroot teams and the number of matches that can be staged. It also sees funding for more coaches too.
(Image: Managing Director Jamie Gibson (centre), from business water retailer Water Plus, with three of the League players and, back row, left to right Steve Wallbank Co-Chair of SGLFL, Vice Chair of SGLFL Aidan Reid and Joanne Waldron, Co-Chair of SGLFL. Credit Water Plus.)
It’s part of the Water Plus approach to improving young people’s skills and confidence for the future, as it works to also raise awareness around how small actions with water can save water and save energy.
There are carbon emissions linked to all water used at sports clubs – and businesses – so reducing water use can cut carbon emissions, helping to reduce future climate impacts and progress towards Net Zero.
Joanne Waldron, Co-Chair of Staffordshire Girls and Ladies Football League and winner of the grassroots football coach of the year in Staffordshire, said: “This is the first big, longer-term partnership for our league – and will really help build on the momentum and growing interest in women’s and girls’ football – it’s a fantastic milestone and it’s great to have a national company support what we do and what we deliver each year.
“The support from Water Plus for the Staffordshire Girls and Ladies Football League will make a real impact and a big difference to young people’s futures, helping increase skills, confidence, health and wellbeing.
“In the partnership we’re also working with Water Plus to highlight the small water-saving actions that sports clubs and businesses can take, that can help save water, save energy and drop running costs.”
Aidan Reid, League Vice Chair, said: “We’re excited to start this partnership that will drive positive change for young people’s health, skills-building – and raise awareness around water-saving steps, as our league continues to grow in team numbers and supporters. ”
Jamie Gibson, Managing Director of SME and Small Corporates at business water retailer Water Plus, which has its main office in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and works with businesses, schools and manufacturers in England and Scotland, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Staffordshire Girls and Ladies Football League, making a really positive difference to local communities, helping young people gain skills for the future and highlighting water-saving that can deliver for businesses, sports clubs – and the planet.”
Amongst, sports clubs seeing savings – water-saving devices installed through business water retailer Water Plus, in 2024, as part of a large-scale project, are expected to deliver a 31% water-saving on the average daily water use at Stafford Town Football Club.
There are more than 260 teams and 80 clubs in the SGLFL, with the league increasing the number of teams in 2024.
The partnership sees Water Plus as the official sponsors for the Staffordshire Girls and Ladies Football League up to and including 2026.
To find more opportunities for sports club and business to increase efficiencies, decrease running costs and help the environment, go to: www.futurenetzero.com/partner/water-plus/ and www.water-plus.co.uk .
More about Staffordshire Girls and Ladies Football League at: www.sglfl.co.uk/league-sponsors/
