Scarlett's UD Journey

A piece from Scarlett Sullivan, one of our founding UD girls members.

Dear UD,

I am here to talk to you today about United Dragons Girls. My name is Scarlett Sullivan, I am 13 years old and I started playing with UD in 2013 when I was 8 years old. My brother was playing at UD in 2011 and I was standing on the side-lines watching, then as my second brother joined I asked my mum if I could join in with the football. I continued to play for the boy's team up until 2015. By that time 6 girls were playing with the boys when Daryl decided we should have our own team, this is how the girls at United Dragons started.

A few months later Daryl managed to find another local girls team to play a friendly match against us, it happened on the first Sunday of December 2015, I remember we didn't win but it was our first match the girl's team ever played. We were all very excited to play again. We continued to play friendly matches against local teams until Daryl decided the girls needed a change so he decided to talk to Regents Park to try to make a league for the girls. This went on to take him 18 months. Our first-ever league match was January 2018 and we have only grown since then. Over the course of two years, the girls league has had some losses and many wins but we always stay optimistic because all the girls and coaches are amazing and create such a great environment. We have had countless wins and when the girls pull together nothing stops us! We have developed massively as a team and individually we have developed great passing, talking, and handling a situation under pressure. I am currently playing in the under 13 team and am looking forward to having a few training sessions leading the younger girls after lockdown.

When I started playing football there were only a few girls in United Dragons but now that has expanded to over 80 girls across different age groups. I think football and fitness are increasingly more important in children and especially young girls as it improves learning, memory, and concentration which can give us all an advantage, especially at school. Girls who play football learn teamwork, working with the coaches and team members to win games and it is great to practice for success in later life. Since I started football I have seen a rise in girl's football in general not just in this club but the league had grown too. There are many more girl teams than there were 2 years ago and the opportunity for young girls to become better at football is ever expanding. I started from being someone who couldn't play football to someone who can play football to a high standard and I have grown so much more as a person as a result.

I think football is so important because I have made some amazing friends and all in all just had fun playing matches and drills. I can be a voice for any young girls at the club and I can put forward and answer any questions or queries that you could possibly have about the club, or if your daughter has any questions come and find me and I will more than happy to help!

On Thursday February 18th Daryl and I are having a live Q + A, please join and come armed with all the questions!

By Scarlett Sullivan