Central Girls Football Academy

The club was founded by football coach Ian Dibdin. In the early 2000s, whilst working within youth development at Falkirk Football Club under Ian McCall, Dibdin was invited to work on expanding the Falkirk girls section. Under this initiative, Dibdin designed and set up women's programs for Falkirk and Stenhousemuir football clubs. In January 2014, Dibdin founded Central Girls Football Academy.{{Cite news|url=http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/gots/item/19445-live-debate-show-girls-women-s-football-13th-march.html|title=Live Debate Show – Girls & women's football (13th March)|publisher=|last=Youth Football Scotland|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en-gb}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/central-region/item/18503-central-football-academy-continues-expansion-into-boys-football.html|title=Central Football Academy continues expansion into boys' football|last=Brown|first=Adam|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en-gb}}

In 2015 the team won the SWFL Division 2 Central and were promoted to the SWFL Division 1 North.{{cite web|url=https://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/cfa/News/view/909742|title=Latest News – Central Football Academy|author=|date=|website=www.clubwebsite.co.uk|accessdate=17 December 2017}}

On 5 November 2017, Central beat Inverness 6–0 to win the SWFL North league and gain promotion to the SWPL2 for the 2018 season.{{Cite web|url=http://scotwomensfootball.com/league-competitions/swfl-division-1-north/|title=SWFL Division 1 – North {{!}} Scottish Womens Football|website=scotwomensfootball.com|language=en|access-date=2017-11-17}}{{Cite news|url=https://shekicks.net/2017/08/14/central-girls-fa-kilmarnock-stretch-swfl-leads/|title=Central Girls FA And Kilmarnock Stretch SWFL Leads – She Kicks Women's Football Magazine|date=2017-08-14|work=She Kicks Women's Football Magazine|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en-GB}} Central won 17 of their 18 league games,{{cite web|url=http://scotwomensfootball.com/league-competitions/swfl-division-1-north/|title=SWFL Division 1 – North – Scottish Womens Football|author=|date=|website=scotwomensfootball.com|accessdate=3 February 2018}} scoring 102 goals and conceding only 18 during the campaign.{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl/2017/north/r39460/|title=Summary – SWFL 1 – Scotland – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway|author=|date=|website=uk.soccerway.com|accessdate=7 February 2018}}

During the 2018 SWPL launch, captain Ellie Kane intimated Central intended to challenge for that years SWPL2 title.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcZrt5TqSFg|title=#SBSSWPL 2018 LAUNCH Ellie Kane – Central GIrls|publisher=Scottish Women's Football|date=19 January 2018|accessdate=3 February 2018|via=YouTube}} On 11 February, Central began the campaign with a 3–1 win away to St Johnstone.{{cite web|url=https://uk.women.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/11/scotland/swpl-2/jeanfield-swifts/central-girls/2711909/|title=St. Johnstone vs. Central Girls – 11 February 2018 – Women Soccerway|author=|date=|website=uk.women.soccerway.com|accessdate=7 March 2018}}

In April 2018, Central midfielder, Chelsea McEachran won the first SWPL Player of the Month award of 2018 for February/March at only 15 years of age.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43736264|title=Scottish women's player of the month is 15-year-old Chelsea McEachran|author=|work=BBC Sport|date=12 April 2018|publisher=|accessdate=13 April 2018}}

In July 2018, Central captain Ellie Kane and midfielder Kim McAlpine left the club to take up university scholarships in the United States. Both spoke highly of Central coach Ian Dibdin with McAlpine stating she hoped to return to Central after her four-year scholarship to Carson–Newman University, Tennessee. Kane left for University of South Alabama, also on a four-year scholarship.{{cite web|url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/central-academy-s-ellie-set-for-alabama-adventure-1-4771011|title=Central Academy's Ellie set for Alabama adventure|author=|date=|website=falkirkherald.co.uk|accessdate=14 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/kim-excited-about-new-venture-as-us-trip-closes-in-1-4771009|title=Kim excited about new venture as US trip closes in|author=|date=|website=falkirkherald.co.uk|accessdate=14 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/grangemouth-girls-set-for-states-after-scholarships-1-4767741|title=Grangemouth girls set for States after scholarships|author=|date=|website=falkirkherald.co.uk|accessdate=14 August 2018}}

The club has had considerable success at youth level, winning many titles.{{cite web|url=http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/central-region/item/9176-summer-of-success-continues-for-central-girls.html|title=Summer of success continues for Central Girls|first=Robert|last=Wilson|date=|website=youthfootballscotland.co.uk|accessdate=7 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/west-region/item/17934-goals-galore-as-central-girls-fa-secure-swf-west-region-league-cup.html|title=Goals galore as Central Girls FA secure SWF West Region League Cup|first=Ameen|last=Rabanni|date=|website=youthfootballscotland.co.uk|accessdate=7 February 2018}}

In 2014 the Central Under-14 team won the UK Championships.{{cite web|url=http://acesfootball.co.uk/hall-of-fame/|title=Pitchero Aces Nationals – Hall of fame Pitchero ACES Nationals 2017|author=|date=|website=acesfootball.co.uk|accessdate=7 March 2018}} In 2015, the Central Under-15 team won the Scottish Cup when they beat Glasgow City 5–0.{{cite web|url=http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/component/k2/item/18523-match-analysis-central-girls-fa-v-glasgow-city-fc-15-s.html|title=Match analysis: Central Girls FA v Glasgow City FC 15's|first=David|last=Brockett|date=|website=youthfootballscotland.co.uk|accessdate=7 February 2018|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207063154/http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/component/k2/item/18523-match-analysis-central-girls-fa-v-glasgow-city-fc-15-s.html|url-status=dead}} In 2016 the team won UK Championships again at Under-16 and Under-17 level.

Eight players of the 2017 SWFL winning team played in and won the Under-14 UK Championship in July 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/central-girls-football-academy-side-crowned-uk-champions-1-3471534|title=Central Girls Football Academy side crowned UK champions|author=|date=|website=www.falkirkherald.co.uk|accessdate=30 November 2017|archive-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117175518/https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/central-girls-football-academy-side-crowned-uk-champions-1-3471534|url-status=dead}}

In July 2018 Central won the Under-15 UK Championship. The win gave Central a UK Championship haul with titles at U14, U15, U16 & U17 level.{{cite web|url=http://acesfootball.co.uk/hall-of-fame/|title=Pitchero Aces Nationals – Hall of fame Pitchero ACES Nationals 2017|author=|date=|website=acesfootball.co.uk|accessdate=14 August 2018}} Later in the same month, the under-15 team also won the Home International Coalfields Cup held in Kelty, Fife. The team beat Boroughmuir Thistle 3–1 in the final, on 30 July 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.jaxmcmedia.co.uk/single-post/2018/07/30/Coalfields-Home-International-Cup-2018|title=Coalfields Home International Cup 2018 – Jax Mc Media Women's Football Results – Scotland – Jax Mc Media|author=|date=|website=Jax Mc Media Women's Football Results – Scotland – Jax Mc Media|accessdate=14 August 2018}}

The Central Girls Football Academy SWPL Match Day programme is called View from the Centre.

Each edition contains match reports, player profiles, league updates and opposition news.

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player |no=1 |nat=SCO |name=Sarah King|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player |no=2 |nat=SCO |name=Zoe Young|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player |no=3 |nat=SCO |name=Sophie Mauriello|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player |no=5 |nat=SCO |name=Shaney McCabe|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player |no=18 |nat=SCO |name=Emma McMurdo|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player |no=4 |nat=SCO |name=Megan Gallagher|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player |no=6 |nat=SCO |name=Kim McAlpine|pos=MF}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player |no=7 |nat=SCO |name=Ellie Kane|other=captain|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player |no=10 |nat=SCO |name=Chelsea McEachran|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player |no=11 |nat=SCO |name=Monica Anderson|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player |no=8 |nat=SCO |name=Abby Callaghan|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player |no=9 |nat=SCO |name=Morgan Cross|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player |no=15 |nat=SCO |name=Naomi Welch|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player |no=16 |nat=SCO |name=Jade Lockie|pos=FW}}

{{Fs end}}

{{small|Source:{{cite web |url=http://www.centralfootballacademy.co.uk/senior-team |title=Central Football Academy – Senior Squad |author= |date= |website=centralfootballacademy.co.uk |publisher= |access-date=26 February 2018}}}}

{{small|Source:{{cite web |url=http://www.centralfootballacademy.co.uk/club-contacts |title=Central Football Academy – Contact Us |author= |date= |website=centralfootballacademy.co.uk |publisher= |access-date=7 March 2018}}}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.centralfootballacademy.co.uk}}
• [https://uk.women.soccerway.com/teams/scotland/central-girls/35764/ Soccerway profile]

{{Scottish Women's Premier League}}

Category:2014 establishments in Scotland

Category:Association football clubs established in 2014

Category:Scottish Women's Premier League clubs

Category:Sport in Falkirk

Category:Women's football clubs in Scotland

Category:Football academies in Scotland

Category:Scottish Women's Football League clubs