Cambridgeshire women 'overwhelmingly positive' about football club's period kits
The club is thought to be the county's first grassroots club to offer the kits
A grassroots football club in Cambridgeshire hopes giving out essential period products to players and coaches will make the women's game more accessible.
Cambourne Town FC is offering Caught Short kits to its female players, to allow women and girls to continue playing football if they unexpectedly start their period while training or during a match.
The kits would allow players to then manage the situation quickly and discreetly without fear of embarrassment in front of others.
"The response has been overwhelmingly positive," Mel Hadley, co-club secretary at Cambourne Town, said.
"Players and parents appreciate the club is recognising an issue that affects many girls but is not always openly discussed.
"Coaches have welcomed having practical support available and the wider football community has recognised the initiative as another positive step towards making grassroots football more inclusive and supportive for female participants."
'Significant' difference
The club first introduced the kits after attending a workshop by the Cambridgeshire FA.
Cambourne - which has 30 male and 13 female sides including around 800 registered players - is thought to be the first amateur club in the county to provide period products to members.
Mel believes the kits will give more women and girls the motivation to take up the game.
"Something as natural as menstruation should never be a barrier to participation and providing these kits is a simple way to support our players' wellbeing and confidence," she said.
"Small practical changes can make a significant difference; the kits can help players reduce embarrassment and reinforce the message that women's health is recognised and supported within football."
Health Hub
In April, the FA set up the Female Health Hub, an online platform where women and girls can find information and advice on key female health topics within football.
English football's governing body says the Hub aims to 'break down barriers that hold women and girls back in football' and give them the 'reassurance they need to feel confident on and off the pitch'.
While the Her Game Too campaign - which tries to promote gender equality across sport - has teamed up with period products company DAME to install free dispensers at partner clubs so women and girls have access to tampons and sanitary pads when visiting their grounds.
Mel hopes Cambourne can allow other local football clubs to follow suit in tackling the barriers still surrounding the female game.
"We hope our approach encourages other clubs across Cambridgeshire to consider similar initiatives," she added.
"Small actions can have a big impact on participation, confidence and retention, helping ensure no player feels they have to stop playing because of something that should never be a barrier."