Stoke City's FA Centre of Excellence for girls is part of the FA talent identification programme and it reflects the professional image of the Ladies team by producing talented young players between the ages of 8 to 16. The Centre of Excellence has four teams at U10, U12, U14 and U16 level. There are currently 59 girls within the Centre, spread over the four age groups.

The players train twice a week, at Clayton Hall & Business Language College on a Monday evening and Alleyne's Sports Centre in Stone on a Wednesday evening. Matches are played on a Saturday against other Centre of Excellence clubs in the Midlands region which compromises clubs such as Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Coventry City, Derby County, Kidderminster Harriers, Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Shrewsbury & Wolverhampton Wanderers. All four age groups will play each of these teams twice a season, once at home and once away. All our Centre of Excellence home matches are played at the Hardman Centre in Milton. The fixture programme is completed by a number of 'Open Weekend' fixtures being played against other Centre of Excellence Clubs across the Country.

The Centre provides girls not only with the opportunity of progressing through the junior ranks to hopefully push on and represent our Senior Ladies team but also gives them the chance to represent England Ladies at various levels from U15 right up to the Senior England Ladies Team. Regional Training Camps happens each season for players from our U14 and U16 squads to attend and to catch the eye of the FA's England Talent Scouts. Former Centre of Excellence player Becky Hall has gained honours playing for England U17's and U19's and in more recent times current Stoke City Ladies 1st Team regular Lucy Ridgeway attended an England U15 training camp!

Staff-wise, The Centre is headed by a Centre Director, currently Richard Carter who came into the post in August 2008 and is complimented by eight coaching staff working with the four teams, two members of staff per age group. All coaching staff are either FA Level 2 or FA Level 3 qualified in Football. The Centre's staff ranks are completed by a Specialist Goalkeeping Coach, a Centre Administrator and a Physiotherapist. Veteran Ladies Coach Warren Leat is also still present within the Centre of Excellence set-up, working as a coach across all age groups in a role to assist both player and coach development.

We are allowed to take players on trial at any point during the season for players that have been recommended to us, host 'Open Trials' for females players to invite themselves to every June (venues, dates etc are advertised via stokecityfc.com and to local schools via flyers) and provide Girls Skill Centres for girls showing promise as future Centre of Excellence players but who are presently more in need of specialised football coaching to make the standard.

For all enquires regarding the Stoke City Girls Centre of Excellence, please contact Richard Carter on 0871 663 2008 or email richard.carter@stokecityf.com.

Any girls interested in playing football and not currently with a local grassroots club are recommened to contact Kevin Staples who is the Girls & Women's Development Officer at Staffordshire Football Association on 01785 256994 or email kevin.staples@staffordshirefa.com.