A NEW women's football team is on the lookout for new players before they kick off their first season.
Andover Town FC has agreed to help launch its first women's football team, as the sport continues to grow in popularity.
The idea for Andover Town Women FC came about when Mollie Fox, 28, from Andover, wanted to play the beautiful game at a higher level, but realised that opportunities to do so for women in the town were limited.
Having been in contact with the acting club secretary of Andover Town FC, Ben Stokes, Mollie was able to get the ball rolling on establishing an official women's team.
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Ahead of the team's first open training session on Tuesday, July 9, Mollie told the Advertiser: "A few of us just wanted to play in the Hampshire League, and wanted to have a team in Andover of that level.
"I got in touch with Ben Stokes who is the vice principal at Andover College and managed to speak back and forth, and now we're holding our first training tonight."
Mollie explained how using an app called Spond, she has so far been able to accumulate 14 members in the squad.
She said: "It's really exciting. Opportunities for young women and older women are hard to come by.
"It helps to get more players and young women in Andover into the game, which is great."
Mollie explained how the team is not just on the lookout for more players, but also more members of staff who can assist with operations.
She said: "We have all been pitching in to do what we can, we are on the lookout for some coaches and coaching staff. We did have a manager but he is in the army and got called away so we would appreciate some more coaches to contact us."
The team will be competing in the Hampshire League, Division 4, when the season kicks off later this year.
The home ground will be Portway Stadium, which is also home to the Andover Town men's team.
Training sessions are being held every Tuesday until the season kicks off, at the Portway Stadium, from 6.30pm to 8pm.
Mollie said the establishment of this team will "mark a great step in women's football in Andover, expanding and offering more opportunities to those who would like to join".
The team will face Winchester Flyers in its first pre-season fixture on Sunday, July 28.
Find out more by going to Andover Town Women FC on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557670924531.
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