As part of the EFL’s Week of Action, Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne and Assistant Head Coach Richie Barker were at the University of Derby on Thursday night to see some of Derby County Community Trust’s Female Talent Pathway teams train.
The Female Talent Pathway, which was formed earlier this year, aims to develop local talent from Under-10 to Under-20 level, with the potential to shape new players for Derby County Women.
With nine teams in three different phases within the Female Talent Pathway, there was plenty of footballing talent on show.
Three of the squads were training at the time and were put through their paces under the watchful eyes of Warne and Barker.
“The standard has been really good and the coaching has been too,” Warne said. “The girls are really enjoying it and it's the perfect environment for the players to become the best version of themselves''.
Derby County Women Captain Amy Sims also attended the session to catch-up with some of the players.
Sims is very familiar with the set-up as she came through the Women’s Academy in what was known previously as the Regional Talent Centre before it was transformed into the Female Talent Pathway earlier this year.
“It is really nice for the girls to see that there is a pathway to get into the first team, and there are more players making that step up now,” Sims said. “There are also more teams in total compared to when I last played here.”
It was a great way to showcase the work put into female football and how the number of players has increased over the years, which fits with the campaign behind the EFL Week of Action.
The week has been a chance to shine a light on life-changing community work, where all 72 member clubs unite to highlight the impact they have on their communities as a collective.
What Is The EFL's Week Of Action?
The Week of Action, taking place between 6th-10th November, is where all 72 member Clubs unite to highlight the impact they have on their communities as a collective.
Across the week, managers and players have been out in their local areas meeting participants and getting involved in the life-changing community activities their Club’s deliver through their Club Community Organisations (CCOs).
Almost 48,500 appearances have been made by EFL players over the last three seasons.
EFL Clubs support hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people all year round, with the demand continuing to rise from challenges including the current cost of living crisis. As evidenced in the EFL’s most recent community impact report, more than 840,000 participants engaged in EFL Club community activities over almost 580,000 hours during across the season. In the same period EFL Clubs delivered over £865m worth of social value to towns and cities across the country and generated more than £101m for community investment.
Trevor Birch, CEO of the EFL, said: “The EFL is about two things – great football competitions and supporting communities 365 days a year – and our annual Week of Action highlights so clearly the strength and breadth of the community work clubs deliver.
“Every week players and managers across the League take time away from the training pitch to get actively involved in their Clubs’ community work, acting as role models and inspiring the next generation. Through the Week of Action campaign, we’re able to give Club community work the prolife it deserves, sharing the remarkable stories of those whose lives have been changed, and in some cases, saved through the work of their local Club.”