LFI IS ALWAYS PROACTIVELY LOOKING FOR WAYS WE CAN HELP, SUPPORT, OR CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS.

We strongly believe in equality and diversity. Being a pillar of our local community is in our DNA. Offering a helping hand to those that need one is just what we do. With a team that is full of energy and enthusiasm to make this happen, we have created partnerships that enable a platform to build upon, go from strength to strength, and achieve success.

With this in mind, we are delighted to announce that LFI has chosen to throw our support behind Amy Riggs. We’ll be Amy’s primary sponsorship partner for the upcoming 2021-2022 football season, which will see Amy take to the field and represent Westfields FC Women once again.

OUR PARTNER AMY RIGGS

Let us introduce you all to Amy. Amy is a football-mad, local young woman from Kilcot, Gloucestershire. She is polite, well-grounded, highly thought of by all, and currently studying hard during the week at Hartpury College, where she is aiming to achieve her qualifications in anatomy, physiology, and football. When Wednesday’s come around, Amy’s focus switches from the classroom to the pitch for Hartpury’s matchday, which she says is definitely her favourite day of college! When she’s not testing her grey matter, Amy is usually playing football. In fact, she plays football every day but Sunday. But, despite her football-packed calendar, she even finds the time to take part in the local park run too. Her love for football, and of sport in general, is apparent as she spoke passionately during her trip to the LFI Headquarters about her past, present and, future. “My Dad got me into football at just 4 years old. I was always kicking a ball about in the garden with my brother” said Amy.

Westfields FC Women official match photography courtesy of Helen Warwick Photography ©

Wanting to play more than within the confines of her garden, Amy’s family went on the lookout to enrol her into a team where she could satisfy her footballing thirst and expand her learning on the pitch. With no girls’ team available at the time, Amy soon signed up to play for the local boys’ team - and thrived doing so. Amy recalls: “Joining FC Highnam at 4 years old is actually my earliest footballing memory. I certainly look back fondly on those times. When I joined, I started out playing defence. The coach then switched me to midfield before I settled into my current position as a striker. Sometimes, I play as a winger now depending on what my team needs on matchdays.” “I can even play in goal if I’m asked to” Amy laughs.

As a right-footed winger, Amy is suited for the current tactical trend found across world football of inverted wingers. Known within the leagues to be deadly in the final third, cutting in from the channels on her favoured right foot and driving towards the box, she excels at creating quality chances for her teammates, and with a knack for scoring herself, Westfields FC Women have a great player, and person within their squad.

This undoubted talent led to Amy being chosen to take part in trials for England School Girls at the age of 15, but unfortunate circumstances led to her missing her trial. Amy commented: “I can laugh about it now, but I was gutted at missing out at the time. If I keep working hard, I might get another opportunity in the future.”

Between the ages of 11-15, Amy moved on to the Hereford FA Academy, developing her skills even further. Her last act as a Hereford player was to be a cup final winner - beating Tupsley Girls FC 2-1 in what Amy remembers to be a difficult game against quality opposition. That game stuck in her mind for a while and looking to up her game even further, Amy decided to make the move to Tupsley Girls FC, where she spent the next two seasons. Impressing for her latest team, Westfields FC Women who had formed just a year earlier in 2020, were taking a keen interest and had been watching her performances closely on many occasions. Soon after the scouts came knocking. Showing a keen interest to improve and believing in the opportunity that Westfields’ had presented her, Amy signed for the 2020-2021 season.

CLIMBING THE DIVISIONS

The 2020-2021 season saw Westfields FC Women promoted from the Midwest Counties Female Football League - with relative ease. The team boasted an impressive six victories from their six matches (due to COVID-19 restrictions), with a goal difference of +19. That well-earned promotion now sees Amy and her teammates competing in the West Midlands Regional Womens Football League, whilst they’ll also be competing in the historic Vitality Women's FA Cup. Now in her second season with Westfields FC Women, and after an unbeaten promotion campaign, teams will note Amy’s ability, into what should prove a more challenging test on matchdays: “This season we're aiming to win back-to-back promotions. We've recruited two new strikers in the off-season so competition for places is going to be tough, but I'm looking forward to the challenge and helping the team. Pre-season has gone well so far, we’re proving we are already competitive and getting some good results. I can’t wait for the new season to start” said Amy.

Whatever the season holds for Amy and Westfields FC Women, it’s sure to be a great experience and opportunity. They’ll be doing so with all the best wishes and support of the LFI team. Go, Amy! Go Westfields!

QUICKFIRE Q&A WITH AMY RIGGS

• Which team do you support? Hereford FC.

• Who’s your favourite footballer? Jordan Pickford.

• How long have you been playing for Westfields FC Women? This is my second season.

• What position do you play? I’m a striker but I also play as a winger sometimes.

• Are you left or right-footed? I’m right-footed.

• How many league goals did you score last season? It was a weird season with Covid-19, we only had 6 league games, but I still managed to score twice.

• What’s your favourite game you’ve taken part in? That has to be the Women’s FA Cup match vs Worcester. Taking part in the FA Cup was special.

• What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored? That must be against Bartestree Ladies FC. It was a worldie!

• What are your ambitions for the coming season? To help the team push for consecutive promotions.

For more information email the LFI team.