This week; Lincolnshire Sports Partnership’s Women & Girls Football Development Officer, Sarah Teal was selected to represent the FA in a UEFA Women’s Football Study to Sweden.

24 year old Sarah, from Lincoln is the only non national officer in the experienced team of 11, and has been selected to study the grass roots development of the game. The team which includes, National Women and Girls Football Development Manager Rachel Pavlou; will be analysing club structures, national squads and elite leagues, as well as assessing whether the strategy employed in Sweden does in fact produce better players.

Sarah comments: “I am elated to be chosen to be part of the first working group formed by the FA to represent UEFA, and am eager to learn what Sweden has to offer.”

Sarah adds: “In particular I am very interested in their player pathway and the way in which girls are participating on a grass roots basis through to elite programs, and how this is comparable to Lincolnshire, England and the FA. This can only be of benefit to Lincolnshire and the football that is played within the county.”

Sarah concludes: “I hope to share my findings when I return... watch this space!”

The study is the culmination of an excellent year for Sarah who has recently completed training as an FA disability & equality tutor, and is currently one of just three Lincolnshire ladies who are working towards Level 3 UEFA B Qualification. To date 61 women in the Country have achieved this level, as of yet none live within the County.

Since taking up post in April 2006, Sarah has driven the expansion of the County Women’s league. In 2005/2006 there were just 6 teams, just two seasons later the County now boasts 13 strong teams. A new u17’s league has also been established, and already boasts 6 teams.

At just 24, Sarah is also the Chairperson of the Lincolnshire Federation of Equality Sport (LFES) which launched in January this year.

The UEFA Women’s Football Study will take place from Tuesday 10th February 2009 to Friday 13th February 2009. To find out more visit www.TheFA.com

The Earl of Wessex will take over after CCPR’s Annual General Meeting in July 2009. Becoming President will add to His Royal Highness’s involvement in sport and recreation in the UK and will complement his patronage of a number of CCPR’s member organisations.

Brigid Simmonds OBE, CCPR Chair, believes that The Earl of Wessex is a natural successor to The Duke of Edinburgh.

“The Earl of Wessex has shown himself to be a real supporter of sport and young people. He has interests in the work of many of CCPR’s members already, being Royal Patron of the British Paralympic Association, Snowsport GB and the Tennis and Rackets Association, as well as being Patron of Badminton Scotland and Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation. He is a sports enthusiast through and through.

“There is a real synergy between His Royal Highness’s personal commitment and the work of CCPR and we are really pleased that he has agreed to become our new President. He has expressed a wish to engage with the work of our members, particularly at the grassroots, and in his new role he can do just that.

“We wanted someone who understands sport, enjoys sport and is committed to the work of our members. The Earl of Wessex will, I am sure, be able to help us move forward and represent CCPR’s cause in the run-up to London 2012.”

“Sport for all” is the key message behind the new sports proposals being unveiled as part of the new Strategy for Sport in Boston, supported by Lincolnshire Sports Partnership.

Giving people the opportunity to get involved in sport, of all kinds, encouraging people to try out sporting activities and ensuring Boston has the facilities it needs - that's what the sports strategy is all about.

Proposals to refit and refurbish Geoff Moulder Leisure Centre, to provide sport more cost effectively across the Borough and to get more community involvement from all residents will be considered by Boston Borough Council in the next month.

Councillors will be asked to consider all the options for providing community sport for all and the best way of managing community sport in the future.

Stephen De Wint, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, said: "It's all about encouraging more people to get involved. We want as many people as possible to be involved in sport in the Boston area.

“The development of the Strategy has focused on ways to get more people involved, to link up better with community sports clubs and look at the facilities in Boston and make them better in the future."

Options members will consider are to refurbish GMLC on site, establish a new way of operating sporting facilities and doing it in the most cost effective way possible.

Members of the Council will debate the proposals at a joint scrutiny committee meeting on 6 November 2008 and it will then go to Cabinet on 26 November 2008 and Full Council on 8 December 2008.

For more information call Sue Lawson on 01205 314308.