Wānaka AFC has announced it is launching a free girls’ football programme for the 2022 season.

The programme will see girls as young as five-years-old given the opportunity to play football against other girls in a fun positive environment, the club said in a statement. 

“We want to offer an option for girls to play in close proximity with their mates to encourage a sense of belonging and a space where they can develop their skills together,” programme lead Jessica Zeestraten said.

Women’s football is growing globally and New Zealand Football has invested in getting more girls involved at a grassroots level.

To support this initiative Wānaka AFC is hoping to provide a pathway for young girls to follow in the footsteps of Anna Leat. 

Anna hails from Wānaka and is playing for West Ham in the United Kingdom.

Anna played for the young football ferns side which won bronze at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay - the first New Zealand team to win a medal at a FIFA event.

In Wānaka term one girls’ football will be available through the ‘Soccer Sisters’ for pre-season training.

There will be a holiday programme for girls’ football in term two. Term three will offer girls’ futsal running, rounding out the year with girls’ football clinics and five aside.

Wānaka girls’ football pre-season training starts on Wednesday March 9 for five to nine-year- olds and on Tuesday March 8 for those over nine-years-old.

All sessions will be free.

Girls and women interested in finding out more are asked to visit the club’s website, facebook page or email [email protected].

IMAGE: Supplied