The Utilita Girls Cup is one of the country’s biggest national football competitions for schools, providing young players with the opportunity to compete for the chance to represent their local EFL club on the road to Wembley Stadium.

During the 2024/25 season, almost 7,000 schoolchildren took part in the Girls Cup, with the competition helping to build confidence and encourage more girls to get involved in football. It has also provided a platform for players who have gone on to reach the Women’s Super League (WSL), including Sam Tierney of Leicester City and Miri Taylor of Aston Villa.

On Thursday, Derby County Community Trust hosted the Derby County local round at Derby Racecourse Hub, welcoming 12 schools and over 105 girls for a day of competitive U13 football. 

The seven-a-side competition saw teams from across Derby City and Derbyshire compete for the opportunity to represent Derby County at the next stage of the competition. All schools performed brilliantly throughout the day, with plenty of competitive action on display.

Heanor Gate emerged victorious following a well-fought final against The Ecclesbourne School. They will now progress to the next stage of the competition, representing Derby County as they look to continue their journey towards the grand final at Wembley Stadium.

The girls also received a special visit from Derby County Women’s first-team goalkeeper Lucy Jones and striker Georgia Stevens, who were in attendance throughout the day. The players took part in a Q&A session, sharing their experiences of the game before watching the matches and offering encouragement to the teams. They also spent time meeting the participants and taking photographs with the schools at the end of the competition.

Players from Derby County Community Trust’s Football Talent Pathway (FTP) programme also came along to help deliver the event, refereeing matches and providing a positive example for the young players taking part.

The Utilita Girls Cup strengthens the links between EFL clubs and their local schools, giving girls the chance to experience competitive football in a positive environment. For the winning team, the journey continues, with Heanor Gate now one step closer to the possibility of playing in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Congratulations to Heanor Gate on winning the local round and well done to all 12 schools who took part in a fantastic day of girls’ football at Leisure United Derby Racecourse.