Fifteen girls from John Kyrle High School participated in the annual Herefordshire Football Association Girls' Festival, making the most of the opportunity to hone their skills and compete against other schools. The festival, held at the Herefordshire FA headquarters on the 3G pitch, saw the students from Years 7 and 8 undergo a skills training morning before putting their newly learned techniques to the test in afternoon games.

"The girls all said that they had an amazing day playing football out in the sunshine," said Mrs Butler, who led the school's delegation. Young leaders from Year 9 also lent their expertise, assisting in the officiation of games, either running the lines or taking on the role of the main referee for the 7v7 games.

During the skills morning, the students practised ball control, shooting and engaged in 2v2 games. These activities aimed to focus their skills in various scenarios, which they later applied in actual game situations against other schools.

The experience was not just about football. The high-spirited girls sang loudly on the bus ride back, adding a jovial end to an enriching day. "I think the very loud singing on the bus on the way back topped it off. My ears are still recovering!" Mrs Butler quipped.