2025 has seen the launch of a new girls Under-12 football league in the Thames Valley — a big step forward for young kōhine in the region.

The league runs as 7-a-side, which makes it easier for small communities to field all-girls teams. The idea was floated at the end-of-season meeting in 2024 and was well supported by local clubs and schools. But it nearly didn’t get off the ground, with several clubs struggling to find enough players to confidently enter a team.

With only three teams entered early on, Whangamatā AFC stepped up and split their team into two to help make the league viable. A late entry brought the total to five: two teams from Whangamatā, one each from Tairua, Hauraki Plains, and Te Rerenga School.

For Tairua FC, forming a girls’ team was a challenge at first.

“I was really pushing to make it happen, but we just didn’t have the numbers,” said Amy Jane Todd, club administrator. “So we put some feelers out in the local Facebook groups and scraped together eight players — just enough to get started. But once we committed, interest exploded. Now we’ve had to cap the team at 14.”

The Tairua Too Cools, as they’ve named themselves, have fully embraced the experience.

Despite having more players than spots on the field, Amy Jane says that every girl turns up, every time.

They rotate game time, support each other from the sideline, and have fully embraced the sense of belonging that comes with being part of a team.

“They’re so into it,” she says. “They even asked if they could wear their uniforms to school — we said yes, and I hear some of them actually did! They also wear them to training. It clearly means something to them.”

For most of the team, it’s their first time playing in an all-girls environment. Amy Jane says the girls are more confident, more engaged in training, and really growing as a team.

Some of the players have shared that in mixed teams, it sometimes felt like the boys played more for individual glory than teamwork. But in the Too Cools, the girls feel more secure, more themselves — and more focused on playing together.

The players themselves say how much they are enjoying it. “I love playing in this league because we’re all girls and we’re really supportive of each other,” said Stella Todd.

“It’s really nice that we get more opportunity to play because it’s an all-girl team - we share the ball with each other,” added Frankie Richmond.

Several girls said the girls’ team allows them to be themselves and focus on playing together, not proving themselves.

“We all know each other and we help each other out when we need help,” said Blake Johnston.

“We’re so kind to each other so I just love playing in the girls’ team.,” said Sienna Lansdowne.

“We all know each other, and we are supportive of each other, we never put our team mates down if they don’t get a shot. Ruby Hughes added

“We play football at school every day and we cheer each other on, and younger kids are joining so we get more and more people playing,” said Indie Waller. “It’s great that other kids feel like they can join in.”

Women's Development Office for WaiBOP Football, Natalie Broadhead, says “It is amazing to see the results of the incredible mahi in the Coromandel girls’ space from former WaiBOP Development Officer, Shane Comber; which along with the solid work from our competitions team and key advocates in the Thames Valley/Coromandel community such as Amy Jane Todd in Tairua and Dee Ross in Whangamatā has resulted in our first ever Thames Valley 12th Grade girls’ league.

"I’m excited to support the growth of the girls’ game in our smaller communities & connecting them into  sustainable girls & women's pathways in our rohe/region".

Article added: Wednesday 25 June 2025