A little while ago I shared an inspiring video with you about football and the relationship between dads and daughters. When it comes to football Dads have a big role to play, after all they often love the sport themselves. I do like to encourage football as a sport as it is very easy to start knocking a ball around in the park and it’s a great way to keep fit. Of course, it’s much more than that when you get competitively involved in a sport and football is activity that so many of us in the this country like to pursue. I think it’s great that more and more girls are playing football as they grow up these days: it’s a really positive move.
So I’d like to share the story of Flo Allen, who is an England Women’s U17, with dreams of making it to the England Women Senior squad. Flo had to move away from her home on her parent’s farm near Norwich to Bristol to pursue her footballing dream. Flo begun playing football when she was only six years old, since then she has developed into one of England’s top prospects to join the England Women’s Senior team. When Flo was only 16 she had to make the decision to leave home in Norfolk to move to Bristol, joining the ladies team there and chasing her dream of being a professional footballer. Flo is part of the England set-up, currently playing for the U17s with aims of being selected for the U17 England World Cup squad.
Despite the physical distance between Flo and her father, they couldn’t be closer, football being just one of the many reasons they are so close. Rob has always supported his daughter and is the first person Flo goes to for anything, claiming she wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without him. In the film he tells how he puts aside time each night to speak to Flo to discuss her day.
This is the third film in a series produced by energy giant SSE for their ‘Dads and Daughters’ series, and it’s worth a watch as it explores the father/daughter relationship and the transformative effect football has had on Flo’s life.
To watch the full film and find out more about the ‘Dads and Daughters series, visit https://www.sse.co.uk/about-us/sponsorship/sport You can also find out more about the work SSE are doing in women’s football by visiting www.SSE.co.uk SSE are committed to improving girls only football provisions and their FA SSE Girls Football Participation Programme is now running with more than 60 clubs taking part around the country. This has increased the number of girls only football provisions, which is a really positive move.
Disclosure: This post is in collaboration with SSE.
Such dedication! I hope she reaches her goals. Such great support from her Dad too. I don’t really understand the football thing myself, but I can see they love it.
Wow, I really hope she makes it. Sounds like she has a great relationship with her dad. Really impressed that the SSE is working so hard for the provision of girls’ football.
This is brilliant! My 9 year old daughter loves football and has just started playing in a after school club. She’s one of the only girls but she loves it!
Hope she succeeds in her goals! My hubby is one of the few men who isn’t really into football….he’s more into cricket
A very inspiring story.
A great inspiration to all
Wishing Flo all the very best in making her dreams happen. With her support in place, she will fly!
It’s great to see women’s football developing so well.
Wow, wish I could be so dedicated, great to see a woman doing so well – All the best Flo!!!
Such dedication for such a young age. I really hope more girls get the chance to do what Flo has done.
I am delighted to say that our local football club has almost as many girls only teams as boys. There is a long way to go for equality though. Well done Flo
The Lionesses have come on leaps and bounds in recent years.
I really enjoyed reading your post. I thought your post was beautifully written. Many thanks for sharing!
It is great to see the relationship between a dad and his daughter and the encouragement is there for all to see. Love that women’s football is on the up too
It’s brilliant to see young women playing football and other traditionally male sports, like rugby. I encourage my children to try everything and would love to see my husband doing the same with our daughter. Amazing role model.
This just goes to show how a child with supportive parents can do anything. What a heartening story.
What a great post 🙂 I used to work with Sport England on a project about getting women and girls into sport so it’s something very close to my heart!