We asked the club:

What's the background of the club?
"Tilehurst Panthers was formed in 2006 and are delighted to have been awarded Charter Standard Development Club status this year as well as becoming a Sister Club to Reading FC Women. The Club is currently a female only football club and boasts 14 teams with over 200 players ranging from 5 years old up to our Ladies. The teams play in either the Berkshire County Girls Football League, Thames Valley Counties Women's Football League or The Surrey Country Women & Girls Football League."

How is the club set up?
"Our Club's ethos is "A football club in Tilehurst, aiming at excellence and fun for all members and their families" and this is at the forefront of everything we do. We have a strong committee of eleven members overseeing the daily running of the club and a social committee who deal with any of our social and/or fundraising events.

The Club has a wide range of coaching experience and we adhere to having at least one F.A. qualified coach per team. In total we have 25 coaches working within the club, all of which are first aid trained, CRC approved and have completed the FA's Child safeguarding courses.

Through our dedication to promoting and encouraging football in the local area over the past 10 years we are now in a position where we have been able to create at least more than one team at each every age group from the under-8s up to u15s, and we continue to have teams all the way up to our Ladies Team. This gives us a great opportunity to be able to provide 'football for all' and allowing us to focus on providing football opportunities to all players based on their own individual ability and development requirements."

Is there any good practice your club has done?
"We work very closely with local schools and run an annual, free of charge, West Reading School Girls football festival as we continue to support and encourage girls football in the local area, and in the build up to this festival we offer free coaching sessions to schools to help them create these teams.

The club also runs a development center which is free of charge for all 5 -> 9 year olds in partnership with Reading Football Community Trust, this is into its fourth year now and is funded through our club's fund raising."

What are your ambitions?
"Ultimately as per the club's ethos, to continue providing football opportunities for all girls in the local area in a fun, friendly and safe environment.

Our annual girls-only tournament is by far the biggest we know of, certainly in the South of the country, and attracts teams from places as far afield as London, Bristol and even the Isle of Wight. Organising this requires a huge amount of time and effort by everyone associated with the club which we are truly grateful for. Each year we look to make it bigger and better so more girls can participate, and we look to continue this trend.

As we grow as a club, so do our links grow with the local community, be it local schools, events, businesses or charities, this is a good thing for the girls, the club and the local community and we aim to continue to improve and expand upon these links."

What does the club need help with?
"We have come a long way from the early days of the club, and whilst we remain hugely indebted and grateful to everyone who plays, or has played, a part in making the club what it is today, I think any local football club would say that they can never have enough volunteers or sponsorship/funding. That aside, as we continue to grow, so the need for training facilities and playing pitches also grows and the demand locally is high, and this can be a concern."

We would like to thank the club for providing this information. If you want more information on the club please visit their website: http://www.tilehurstpanthers.com/
Twitter: @TP_GirlsFC

If you would like to have your club profiled please contact: Matthew.Pill@Berks-BucksFA.com

For previous club profiles please click the links below:
Club Profile- Harchester Hawks

Club Profile- Datchet Village