Women's football team which doesn't count goals launching in Horsham
Gals FC is trying to get more of us trying the sport for the first time.
A non-competitive women's football team's launching in Horsham to get more of us trying the sport for the first time.
Gals FC - which already has teams Brighton and Bexhill - doesn't count goals, instead focusing on the mental health and social benefits of playing sport.
"It's so crucial to have a space where you can show up and just be bad at something," explains Nora, who co-founded the team after the Lionesses Euros win in 2022. "Especially for adult women who have a lot of pressure in their lives, whether that's caring responsibilities or work or family or friends.
"It just really reduces the barrier to entry for people."She added that they "care a little bit about improving football skills - but not much", with the goal of the matches to give players a space to "switch off." The club's own impact report - which Nora explains is how they measure it's success while playing non-competitively - found some women describing the matches as "life-changing".
"Some people go from never having run around before to coming to Gals FC, realizing they can get active and starting to go do 10K's.
"People have made friends where they wouldn't have.
"They've found roommates through Gals FC.
"We really do see it as something that overall improves women's lives, and offers them a type of support that you just don't really get in your day-to-day life anymore.
She shared that they're opening a further 50 Gals FC sessions this year and is encouraging people to reach out to them on Instagram or via their website about opening a new game locally.