Hey there! The England women’s senior team recently had a super cool event at St George’s Park. They invited a bunch of young, talented goalkeepers to hang out and train with them. How awesome is that? These future stars, aged between 10 and 16, got to watch the squad train and even had their own training sessions on the same pitches used by the England teams. And guess what? They also got to meet their idols – the four senior Lioness goalkeepers! Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, and Ellie Roebuck were there to chat and answer questions. How cool is that? These lucky girls are part of the Future Lioness Goalkeeping Centres, which were set up by The FA to help develop young goalkeepers and support them on their journey to potentially play for England one day. There are 11 of these centres across the country, and they offer a special support program to female goalkeepers with talent and potential. The best part is that the girls can still play for their club teams while being part of the centres. It’s like having the best of both worlds! The Future Lioness Goalkeeping Centres also provide opportunities for aspiring coaches to develop their skills. How awesome is that? Jamie Annerson, The FA’s women’s goalkeeping pathway lead, said that these centres are super important to show young girls that they have a system in place to support their dreams of playing professional football. And you know what? The success of the Lionesses in recent tournaments has inspired a whole generation of girls to play football. It’s amazing to see the demand for these centres from girls who want to be goalkeepers. Mary Earps, one of the senior Lioness goalkeepers, said that it was incredibly special to bring everyone together and show the next generation what it’s like to be a goalkeeper. She hopes that the girls made some awesome memories that they’ll cherish forever. Ellie Roebuck added that they feel privileged to inspire the next generation and take their role as role models seriously. She wishes she had the opportunity to be part of a centre like this when she was younger. It’s fantastic that these facilities are available now for the next generation to reach even higher levels. So, how cool is that? The England women’s senior team giving young goalkeepers a chance to train with them and be inspired. It’s events like these that make us love football even more!