October has brought cup progression, strong league performances and plenty of encouraging signs across Derby County’s Female Talent Pathway, with players continuing to make strides both in competition and through their development.

The U16s competing in the Junior Premier League (JPL) have secured their place in the cup’s round of 32 after topping their group with four wins from four. Victories over West Brom and Wolves, 4-1 and 4-2 respectively, completed a perfect group-stage campaign and earned the side a bye into the next round. They have carried that momentum into league action, beating boys’ side Ferdinand Collective 3-0 in an impressive performance that leaves them top of the table after two matches.

There has been further cup success for the U16s competing in the JPL Warriors League, who won all three of their group-stage matches, scoring 19 goals without conceding. Their league campaign has since brought a 4-0 victory over Lincoln and a goalless draw against Notts County, before a defeat to Leeds. The side kept two clean sheets across their three league fixtures.

The U18s have also been in prolific form, recording back-to-back wins over Coventry, 9-0, and Doncaster Rovers Belles, 8-0.

The U15s have also enjoyed a positive month, beating Doncaster Rovers Belles 2-1 before sharing the points in a draw with Notts County.

The U14s have made their mark in front of goal, too, beginning October with a 17-0 victory over Prestbury before recording a 10-0 win against Evolution. They rounded off the month with a 2-0 victory over York City, adding another strong performance to their campaign.

The U14 mixed side have continued their impressive league form, winning all five of their matches and conceding just twice in that run.

Across the younger age groups, progress on the pitch continues to be supported by the work taking place in training. The U13s have continued to show improvements across the squad, although fixture cancellations meant fewer competitive opportunities during October.

The U12s have also been making encouraging strides, with better passing, tackling, teamwork and overall shape becoming increasingly evident on matchdays. The focus now is on improving their finishing and maintaining their shape as they continue to put their training into practice.

The U11s’ positive performances against boys’ opposition have earned them promotion from Division Three into a higher division, providing a new challenge for the team as they continue to develop throughout the season.

The U9s enjoyed a valuable experience in Sheffield, taking part in a series of 5v5 games against Sheffield United alongside their regular YEL programme. They also faced Durham’s U10s during October half-term, giving the players further opportunities to experience different opposition and continue developing their game.

With teams across the pathway continuing to build on their development, there is plenty to look forward to as the season moves into November.

To find out more about Derby County’s Female Talent Pathway, visit derbycountycommunitytrust.com/what-we-do/female-talent-pathway/. For any further enquiries or to express your interest, email ftp@dcct.co.uk.