Monday 22 September 2014 10:33, UK
Great Britain head coach Jim Messenger is pleased with how the women's American football game is developing in the UK, but admits there are huge challenges ahead.
Messenger is leading the GB team into its first ever competitive match against Sweden on Saturday and he sees the clash as a good indicator for how the women's game has been developing.
And beyond it, Messenger hopes that women's American football can begin to flourish in England like it continues to do in the rest of Europe.
''The priority for us is the development of the game and this match is a vehicle to help us develop that, but also to see how exactly our development is going as we take on an experienced team,'' he told Sky Sports.
''We’re aware there are plans for the Women’s European Championships to be hosted next year. If that goes ahead, we really do hope that we’ll be able to be part of that.
''There are a number of teams and a number of countries now that are growing football for women in Europe and it’s spreading. There could be eight or nine countries playing by next year so it’s not a foregone conclusion.
''In possibly three to four years time we’d like to think that we could be competitive and be genuine contenders at a European level.''
Part of Messenger's vision is the development of young players but he feels there are significant challenges which need addressing before that can happen.
''There are massive challenges. The women that played this year have had to contribute quite a lot of their own money and a lot of commitments for time and travel to be involved," he said.
"We’re such a small group of people at the moment, spread over the whole nation. That’s the way it is so as we build capacity and resources then I’d love to be able to develop younger players.
''I hope that we will see the situation when we have female youth teams. We will have girls come forward that will play with men’s youth teams much the same age as a number of our ladies playing with men’s adult teams.''
