Hydraulics Online is proud to sponsor Chester Schoolgirls Under 11s' football team. We’ve agreed to sponsor the team to support their efforts to provide opportunities for girls to play and enjoy the sport in our region. The girls are proudly wearing our logo on their kits.
Claire Smedley from Chester School Sport Partnership at Blacon High School in Chester, Olivia Fuller and Tom Mulligan have played an integral part in setting up this new team. “We’d like to extend our thanks to Hydraulics Online for sponsoring our new Chester Schoolgirls Under 11s’ football team.”
Off to a winning start!
The girls made a very successful start to their inaugural season. In their most recent home match at the end of June, the girls beat Vauxhalls Under 12s Girls’ team three goals to one.
Claire told us, “It has been a very successful season for the girls following on from the trials. We put together a squad of 16 and we have had many training sessions and six matches to date.”
The girls have been able to get a good number of matches under their belts already, as Claire explains, “Our Summer term is the busiest and with all the wet weather we have had to re-arrange a lot of events so it’s even busier than usual!”
Promoting girls’ participation in sport
The coaches created the new Under 11s Girls’ team to give girls the same opportunities that boys have to play football at district level.
“The main reason for us starting this team was because there has been a Chester schoolboys Under 11s team for many years now – but no girls’ team. We thought it was time that the girls had the same opportunities as the boys,” Claire explains. “That’s why we are playing teams older than us to gain some experience for the girls”.
The initiative was a natural fit for Hydraulics Online to sponsor the team. Our founders Helen and Mark Tonks dedicate a great deal of time and effort to promoting greater diversity in Engineering and encouraging girls to think of engineering and entrepreneurship as a career choice. Helen was named a Northern Power Woman in 2023.
“We’re delighted that Hydraulics Online sponsors Chester Schoolgirls Under 11s’ team,” says Helen.
Both Mark and I are committed to encouraging women and girls to broaden their horizons and venture into what are perceived as traditionally ‘male’ spaces.
In many ways, football has a lot in common with my own journey into the hydraulics industry. Knowing that we can make a difference to these girls and support them to pursue the sport they love is really rewarding. We’re delighted by the girls’ success so far.
We believe in doing our bit, supporting many charities and worthy causes over the years, but paying it forward directly into the community is even higher on our agenda
