TRAINING GOALS
Please respect the fact that Covid-19 means lower numbers at training than we would like. We are doing our very best to ensure we stick to all the FA guidelines re Covid safety - this includes limiting training sessions to 30 people including a coach. We are extremely lucky to have the space to hold two Covid-safe training sessions at Haggerston - with 60 members present.
In a non Covid world we will be able to have 80+ people at training due all the space at our beautiful new training home. So we can look forward to our world without a training waitlist in the future but in the meantime please be patient and please only sign up if you have every intention of attending training.
As the advanced waitlist has been consistently the largest, especially on keeper weeks, this week we trial different sized groups. We have also noticed that the on-the-day-dropout rate is 2 x higher in the academy group (20%) compared to the advanced group (10%).
This week we will have the following signups:
Advanced: 29
Keepers: 8
Intermediate: 10
Academy-Intermediate: 10
One of the advanced groups will be socially distanced as necessary.
MEMBERSHIP IS FULL
Our membership for the remainder of 2020 is now full and we have an 80 person waitlist.
We do, however, have membership spaces reserved for people of colour, non-binary folk and trans womxn. We also have subsidised spots for local players from the Haggerston area who are unable to afford football otherwise. For anyone you know who wants to access these spaces or join our waiting list they can sign up here: www.goaldiggersfootballclub.com/join-us
We acknowledge that we all have a part to play in increasing diversity and inclusion in womxn and non binary people’s football. Two of the ways in which GDFC is committed to striving for real and long lasting change include offering dedicated membership spaces to members of under-represented communities and ensuring all members engage in and adhere to our Equality Policy, Gender Inclusivity Explainer and Accountability Policy.
If you have friends/ family who missed out on membership then we are holding two very exciting monthly sessions on a beautiful pitch in Kings Cross. On the first Thursday of each month we are running sessions for womxn and non binary people who are over the age of 40 years old. On the second Thursday of each month we are running sessions for all womxn and non binary people - these sessions are focused on fun and putting the ALL back into footbALL.
Please share information about these sessions to anyone who might be interested. This is the sign up link: www.goaldiggersfootballclub.com/join-us
FIXTURES & TRAINING
Hello! Great news!
Intermediate Sunday 7s is back, to finish up the last season on 4th and 18th October. It will be 2x30min matches and if you played in the league before lockdown you are automatically eligible to play.
NEW Sunday 7s Leagues Info: This will be available in the store this week
More great news, we are entering 3 teams into the Experienced League and 2 teams into the Intermediate league for Sunday 7s
Due to pitch space (a never ending issue amirite) this is going to be a shorter league of only 7 weeks and teams will play 2x30 minute matches
Experienced and Intermediate will be playing on alternate weekends with Experienced starting on 11th October and Intermediate starting on 1st November.
See fixtures here:
Experienced League (October - January) (3 x GDFC teams) https://fulltime-league.thefa.com/ListPublicFixture.do?divisionseason=589550208&league=5660121
Intermediate League (November - February) (2 X GDFC Teams) https://fulltime-league.thefa.com/ListPublicFixture.do?divisionseason=826233905&league=5660121
Upcoming fixtures
COMMITTEE ROLES
Introducing our wonderful new treasurer Yessica Liceth Ortiz Mejia!
Q: Why do you think you'll make a good Treasurer?
A: I always aim to be successful and better myself in everything I do as it will help me in the future. Therefore I will carry out my role with the same spirit to aid GDFC to be financially successful which will help us continue growing into a bigger club!
Q: What will your aims for the club be over the next year?
A: My desire would be for the club to grow financially and have good financial solvency which will help increse future opportunities for success.
Q: What are you most looking forward to now you are part of the GDFCommittee?
A: I am looking forward to meeting and making new friends. And most importantly helping GDFC bag loads of goals £££ !
The Grant officer role will close at the end of next week, I know lots of you have expressed interest in the role so now is your last chance!
View the Grant Officer role here.
MERCH LOVE
We’re so happy to see all our goals in our merch! Merch of the week is Julie’s & Garcia’s Cratus ¼ zip hooded jacket that we LOVE (Garcia is wearing a Medium in the photo). Perfect for those drizzly training sessions.
Remember you can get merch for yourself / friends / family / goalfriends on our Halbro store.
We’ve had feedback that the tracksuit are sized quite small so we recommend going up a size if ordering those. A few people have asked about GDFC jumpers & shorts & socks. These will be available soon at training - as soon as we’re allowed to pick up our equipment from our old training storage!
A final reminder to any of our new members to purchase Gold playing shirts in TeamApp so that they arrive in time for new leagues. Any questions, get in touch with Gaia xo
A KIT OF OUR OWN…
Right, this is exciting.
2021 will be 100 years on from the FA ban of women playing on FA pitches. To recognise this & to address the ongoing lack of pitch availability for womxn and non-binary people, we will be designing a new GDFC PROTEST KIT. This will be our proper bespoke kit for years to come.
We want this kit to be designed by GDFC members for GDFC members. We will be creating a group of goals to help with the design, so please get involved! Old Goal Jessie Krish (<3) will be leading the design.
Please email membership@goaldiggersfootballclub.com to express interest. It’s going to be fun, creative & we’ve got some special gifts for those that help us out! The current timeline is to design the kit in October & November so that production can begin in December.
GOAL DIGGERS 40+
Goal Diggers 40+ is back!
The next session is on Thursday 1 October from 20.15-21.30 at Calthorpe Community Pitch, Calthorpe Project, 258-274 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8LH.
Players can sign up here. Sessions are £5, or pay what you can.
These sessions are aimed at women and non-binary players who are over the average age of Goal Diggers’ membership. They are suitable for beginners. Players of all levels of fitness and experience are welcome.
Please spread the word to your parents/friends/colleagues/anyone you think might be interested in playing some football in an inclusive, safe and friendly environment.
LAST 2 DAYS OF GDFC ART FUNDRAISER
Order your prints by Wednesday!
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Wednesday Training Academy Coach Amy and Niamh O'Brien
Wednesday Training Advanced Coach Josh and Maddy Hartle
CWSFL 11s Experienced Coach Amy and Dizzy Cahill
CWSFL 11s Experienced Captain Millie Paterson and Katherine Yesilermak
11s Training Coach Jish and K8 Allinson
Sunday La Liga La Kingsbeer
Sunday La Liga Captain Saba Hussain and Farida Dankaro