THE NATIONAL surge in interest of women’s football could be heading to Malvern next year after a new idea was suggested for it to host a special tournament.
Malvern Town Council bosses are currently considering a long list of possible new events to happen in the town next year – which have come from councillors – after the authority decided to expand its events calendar from April next year.
The council has recently employed Eadwine Brown who has been given the responsiblity of bringing events to life.
And one of those suggested was for Malvern to host a women’s football tournament to coincide with the rising interest in the sport.
It comes just months after England Women’s team made the headlines this summer for their run to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup. It was the first time they reached the last four in the tournament.
The Football Association also launched the Women’s Super League in 2011 with television coverage now available on BT Sport and other women’s games shown on the BBC.
A report to councillors says the tournament will be aimed ‘to build upon the heightened interest in and awareness of women’s football’ and could feature a guest appearance by an England player.
It also says “MTC (Malvern town Council) could provide an all-weather pitch (for which grants maybe available) and its opening fixtures could feature local women’s teams or perhaps an exhibition match between semi-professional sides.
“Prizes etc could be presented by a member of the Lionesses.”
The idea received backing from Chris Pinder, managing director of Malvern Town Football Club, who said the club would be happy to provide the council with stadium access to host such an event, if it were to become a reality.
He told the Observer: “Malvern Town Football Club welcomes any idea to create more awareness of women’s or even men’s football. We have one of the leading women’s teams in the district so I think it would work well here in Malvern.
“We would happily offer organisers the HD Anywhere Stadium to host such an event.”
Other events suggested for 2016 include a new comedy festival, a special civil event to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday, a Malvern Half Marathon and Fun Run day, a treasure/scavenger hunt, a New Year firework display and a health and well-being event.
The council’s events committee meet again on November 19 to discuss potential ideas in more detail.
