Cumbernauld Colts aim to be biggest women's team in North Lanarkshire

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Cumbernauld Colts’ have launched a new women’s team – and now they are determined to become the biggest club in North Lanarkshire offering girls’ football.Colts are looking to offer full parity with their mens’ Lowland League team, and could be looking to expand possibly beyond the confines of Broadwood Stadium in the new town.Secretary Grant Cullen says the club want to reach around 1000 youth players over the next five years, and work in partnership with community initiatives to deliver this.But they also want to create walking football, assisted special needs (ASN) and recreational ladies’ football opportunities.“What we’re trying to do with the women’s team is get as much parity as possible with our male Lowland League team,” said Cullen.“For instance, for training we share a pitch – one half for Lowland League, one half for women.

The women play inside the stadium and utilise changing rooms, the physio and the doctors.“It’s not just a bolt-on, we are trying to get parity.

I really do think the women’s team is a statement for where the club is, currently.“Our girls’ pathway is continuing to grow and we’re in a position now where we have that full pathway – we’ve got under-eights right through to under-18s, and now we have a women’s team.“Women’s and girls’ football is high on the agenda for the club, and that’s one of our key priorities over the next five years.“In terms of our girls’ pathway, we want to double our numbers.

We want to reach 1000 youth players and we want to be the biggest club in North Lanarkshire that has girls’ football.”Cullen says there are still barriers to be crossed, but hopes to do so.“There are challenges,” he said. “Unfortunately there are still a lot of stigmas attached to girls’ football