13 local girls aim for Holland - Crofton Saints Lionesses launch £8,000 European adventure
Thirteen young footballers from Crofton Saints Lionesses U12s are preparing for an unforgettable opportunity as they aim to represent their club and local community at an international youth football tournament in Holland at Easter 2027.
The grassroots team, based near Stubbington and drawing players and supporters from Fareham, Gosport, Lee-on-the-Solent and surrounding areas, will travel with three volunteer coaches for what will be the girls' first overseas football tournament.
The overall cost of the tour is expected to be around £8,000 for the 13 players and three coaches.
Crofton Saints has already committed £1,000 towards the trip, and the team has now launched an ambitious fundraising campaign to help raise the remaining costs and make the opportunity as accessible as possible to every player.
The campaign will include community fundraising events, local business sponsorship, a GoFundMe appeal and easyfundraising, which allows supporters to raise money for the team at no additional cost while shopping online with participating retailers.
More than football
Although competing internationally will be at the heart of the tour, the coaches believe the experience will offer the girls much more.
The team will stay at Duinrell Holiday Park in Wassenaar, giving the players the opportunity to experience another country together while enjoying the park's attractions alongside their football commitments.
The tour is expected to help develop confidence, independence, teamwork and resilience, while creating friendships and memories that could last a lifetime.
Volunteer coach Darren Gooding said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for 13 local girls who simply started out playing grassroots football because they loved the game.
“We now have the chance to take them overseas, represent Crofton Saints and our local community and play against young footballers from other countries.
“For us, though, this is about far more than the matches. We want the girls to grow in confidence, experience something completely different together and create memories they will still be talking about many years from now.
“We also want to make sure that family finances are not the reason a player cannot take part, which is why we are working so hard to raise as much of the cost as possible.”
Inspiring the next generation
The team hopes the Holland adventure will also have a lasting impact on girls' football locally.
Crofton Saints wants the players to become role models for the younger girls coming through the club and demonstrate where grassroots football can lead.
Darren added:
“One of the things I would love to see is a younger Crofton Saints player watching these girls go to Holland and thinking, ‘That could be me one day.’
“Girls' football has come such a long way and we want this journey to encourage more girls to start playing, stay involved and dream a little bigger about where football could take them.”
Local businesses and community invited to get involved
The Lionesses are inviting individuals and businesses from across Stubbington, Fareham, Gosport, Lee-on-the-Solent and the wider area to support their European Adventure.
Businesses can become official tour sponsors, while members of the public can support the girls through GoFundMe, fundraising events or simply by registering with the team's easyfundraising page and generating donations through everyday online shopping.
Support can also be provided through donated goods or services, raffle and auction prizes, printing, clothing, transport and other practical assistance.
The team's message is simple:
13 girls. One team. One unforgettable opportunity.
Anyone interested in supporting the Crofton Saints Lionesses European Adventure 2027 can contact:
Darren Gooding
Crofton Saints Lionesses U12 Coach