Undoubtedly over the past few years, the success of the England Lionesses has helped, if not inspired, the growth of girls and ladies’ football across the whole country.

But with many aspects of the football world under scrutiny in the current climate, KSN has been talking to Leigh Willis, the Chairman of the Kent Girls and Ladies League about the troubled times that the ladies game potentially faces in the weeks and months ahead…

Leigh told us, “We’re the biggest girls League in the country – last year we had two hundred and thirty-five teams across seventy-five clubs which show what a big growth we’ve had in previous years!”

“Our affiliations are due in, and at last count we were at one hundred and seventy-six teams from twenty-one clubs.”

“Last year to put it into perspective, we had twenty new clubs come into the League – this year that number is three! And that’s because the Wildcat scheme that the FA run and acts as a feeder into the girls game over the last couple of years wasn’t able to run this year and so a path that has seen many girls come into the game simply isn’t there this year.”

“In the last two years, I’d say that we’ve seen over thirty clubs come into the League so there will be a knock-on effect, but where we’ve lost a couple of clubs as well naturally.”

“I think realistically I don’t think that we’ll be far off where we were last year – I think that we’ll get around two hundred and ten teams which will be about twenty or so down on last year, which overall you have to say isn’t too bad given everything that’s gone on.”

“We’ve probably got another twenty or so clubs to possibly come back in so we might actually be up club wise with multiple teams at some clubs whilst others may well become one team clubs which may well increase!”

“There’s been plenty of thought process going into planning for the new season – there’s been discussion about it almost since we closed down.”

“The affiliations don’t open until the end of this month in Kent and usually that’s the start of a four to six-week process to get registered for all the Cups and affiliated to all the Leagues.”

“So that will have to be speeded up if we are to start in September, but realistically if it is going to start, I would hope and like to think that it’s going to be in October time.”

“By that time hopefully they might have some idea scientifically if we are going to get a second wave or another peak, and if that does happen, I really can’t see any new season starting until the New Year at the earliest.”

“We may only have half a season this year perhaps, but it’s anyone’s guess at the moment – everything’s constantly changing almost daily on the recommendations and guidance – it’ll be interesting to see what changes now that the pubs and restaurants have reopened and how long it will be until rules are relaxed further which may allow us to start the season earlier that we think, but its still a lot of who’s, maybe’s and but’s to come across and a lot of second guessing between now and then!”

Leigh then had this warning to all grassroots clubs – “I think a big problem a lot of clubs and teams will face will be losing players since Lockdown mainly due to the fact that they’ve got used to having more time at home; more family time; perhaps less stress.”

“At the moment we as a club (Anchorians) haven’t really seen it on players but all of our teams aren’t back yet – from what we’ve seen so far, it hasn’t been too bad, but I’m sure that there will be drop-offs, possibly more in the adult game, perhaps than the youngsters maybe who won’t want to come back and are quite happy with the current situation and getting that family time back.”

He went on, “I feel that participation levels will drop off this year, but hopefully after the Euros and the Olympics next summer we’ll see it pick up again as hopefully everyone will be back to some sort of normality by then which will hopefully see the levels especially at grassroots on the rise again.”

“I don’t think it will just be football – I think all sports could well suffer but it will be great to see as many of the girls – and boys – back out there wearing their team colours!”