History Makers: J4K Lionesses Make Plymouth Football History

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For over a century, Plymouth has proudly fielded schoolboys' football teams, nurturing generations of young male talent. But in over 100 years of history, something truly groundbreaking has finally happened — for the very first time, a Plymouth Schoolgirls Football Association team has been formed. This marks a huge milestone not just for the city, but for the development of girls’ football in the region.

After weeks of intense trials involving some of the most talented young female players from across Devon and Cornwall, history was made once again — because every single goalkeeper selected for the new Plymouth U13 Schoolgirls team came from Just4Keepers (J4K). That’s right — all three chosen shot-stoppers are proud J4K Lionesses, trained and mentored by J4K Devon and Cornwall coach, Andy Meeds.

Andy was invited to assist at the trials as an independent goalkeeping coach, with no prior involvement in the schools’ football setup. His role was to provide a fair, unbiased assessment of the goalkeepers on show — a responsibility he took on with great pride. What followed was an impressive display of skill, commitment, and confidence from all the J4K keepers involved.

“The standard of goalkeeping was outstanding,” Andy shared. “To see all three selected players coming from our J4K program is something very special. It’s not only a proud moment for me personally but also for the entire J4K family. It shows that what we do works — we’re developing goalkeepers who can step up, perform under pressure, and represent their city at the highest levels.”

The newly formed Plymouth U13 Schoolgirls team didn’t waste any time proving their quality. In one of their first outings, they defeated last year’s national finalists 6–1, sending a strong message that this is a team to be reckoned with. They followed up that impressive performance with another hard-fought victory, edging out their opponents 4–3 in a thrilling encounter.

These early results highlight not just the talent within the squad but also the growing strength of girls’ football in the South West. For Andy and the J4K community, it’s also a testament to the power of proper goalkeeper coaching — giving young players the skills, mindset, and belief to chase their dreams.

Andy has been asked to continue working with the goalkeepers throughout the season — an opportunity he describes as a “real honour.” His dedication to developing young talent has been instrumental in helping these players reach new heights, and now, they’re inspiring a new generation of female goalkeepers across Devon and Cornwall.

As the Plymouth Schoolgirls U13 team embarks on their historic first season, everyone at Just4Keepers would like to say a huge congratulations to our three J4K Lionesses. You’ve already made history — and we can’t wait to see what you achieve next.

Good luck girls — you’ve made J4K and Plymouth proud!

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