Women's National team played their first game ahead of the World Cup in Colombia

Writes: Megan Grey

The Women’s National Team played their first competitive fixture in the IKO EAFA Cup this week.

They played three games, the first one against the Everton amputee team.

All three games ended in a defeat but the games weren’t about the results for the girls.

It was about the experience they gained from playing these competitive matches after still being a new team that is growing ahead of the World Cup in Colombia.

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Shelbee Clarke plays for the Women’s National Team and regularly plays for Chelsea in the IKO Football League.

She said; “The men let us play our game which gave us opportunities to try and learn new things as a team which was good.

"Seeing all the girls playing together and it all coming together is amazing. This gets us prepared and more excited for what the girls have to bring.”

Clarke is used to playing with the men as she was the only female athlete playing in these games until recently, so she was happy to play with the women and share the field.

Clarke said: “These games help us to also prepare our formation and see how the girls play.

"Seeing all the girls find their comfort on the pitch will prepare us for Belgium, making that the big difference between now and then.

"The score wasn’t an issue. We all just enjoyed it. Seeing all the girls come together makes me happy.”

The Women’s National team scored two goals against Portsmouth by working together as a team.

Clarke also spoke about her experience not having a female role model to look up to growing up.

She said: “It has been such a long time that England hasn't had a women's team and now we have that opportunity.

"I never had an amputee person to go to so if I can be that person for someone else and help them, I would be that person.

"We see the difference just being there has on our juniors in the camps. Every person has the right to enjoy the game.

"The support from people back at home means more than I think they will realise.”

Prior to joining the Women’s National team some of these women had never kicked a football, so this sport is new to a lot of them.

Clarke added; “I am so proud of them. Not just with the formation or the tactics, it is the connection on and off the field.

"This is doing us wonders going forward as a team looking ahead to the Women’s Amputee World Cup in November."

The Women’s National Team will join each other again this Saturday for another training camp where they continue to grow, learn and develop as a team.

Follow all the action across our social media platforms during the weekend.