The FAI together with Dublin Local Authority partners have announced an imaginative programme designed to foster greater soccer participation among girls aged from 9-12.  The Road to Poland initiative is a four a side ‘fun’ tournament to be held in the shadow of the Aviva Stadium with tickets for the Republic of Ireland against Bosnia on May 26th as prizes. 
Clubs can only enter a boy’s team if it is accompanied by a girl’s side at U10 and U12 while girl’s teams can enter on their own.  The hope is this will encourage clubs that do not have a schoolgirls section to pilot a team for this tournament and help give girls equal opportunities, whilst growing their club.
The objective is to increase female participation levels by identifying girls with an interest in playing football and giving them a pathway to become involved with local clubs.
The competition will take place on Tuesday, May 15th, from 6pm-9pm, on the Lansdowne Rugby Club all-weather pitch beside the Aviva Stadium. The lucky winners of each competition will receive tickets for Road to Poland send off game Republic of Ireland v Bosnia.
Irish team manager Giovanni Trapattoni has given his backing to the event and teams can be entered by email to roadtopoland@fai.ie
With Giovanni Trapattoni endorsing the competition, FAI Greater Dublin Regional manager Gerry Reardon commented “The focus of our Local Authority development officers this year is on increasing girl’s football participation,” said Gerry Reardon, FAI Greater Dublin Regional Manager.  “Over 600 girls participated on our Aviva Soccer Sister Easter programme and this is a fantastic next step to raise profile for girl’s football with such an exciting summer ahead”.
We hope to include discussion of events such as this in our Sport for Business Members Round Table event on Women in Sport on May 25th.
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