Supporting the growth of girls’ football at Chesham United

For many young players at Chesham United Women FC, football is more than just a game. It is a place to build confidence, form lasting friendships and develop a sense of belonging — something that has become increasingly important in a fast-paced, digital world.

Over the past five years, that environment has been shaped not only by dedicated volunteers, but by consistent support that has helped the girls’ section grow, compete and thrive.

At the heart of it is people like Rory Smith.

Having first got involved when his daughter joined as a young goalkeeper, Rory stepped in to help at a training session — and never really left. Today, he coaches the U16 girls team, and supports the senior women’s team, spending many evenings and weekends contributing to the club.

“It’s a grassroots club — it needs people to give their time for it to exist.”

That commitment is reflected across the club. Chesham United’s girls’ section brings together players from different schools and backgrounds, united by a shared love of football. For many, it offers something increasingly rare.

“When they’re at training or on a match day, they’re off their phones, they’re outside, and they’re part of something together,” Rory says. “They build a real bond — and that creates a strong team.”

“When they’re at training, they’re off their phones and part of something together.”

A team that’s grown together

Over the years, that sense of togetherness has translated into real progress on the pitch.

From early development stages to competitive fixtures, the team has evolved into a confident, cohesive group — most recently demonstrated by their County Cup success.

“We’ve created not just a group that plays together, but a group that wins together,” Rory explains. “That feeling — achieving something as a team — is something they’ll carry with them.”

“We’ve created not just a group that plays together, but a group that wins together.”

But success has not come without challenges. Like many grassroots clubs, Chesham United Women operates with limited resources, relying heavily on volunteers and modest player fees to cover essential costs such as pitches, referees and equipment.

That is where external support has made a meaningful difference.

The impact of consistent support

Over the past few years, Salus’ sponsorship has played a key role in enabling the girls’ team to access better facilities and maintain consistency throughout the season.

“The support has been massive,” says Rory. “It’s allowed us to train and play on 3G AstroTurf pitches, which makes a huge difference.”

“The support has been massive.”

That access goes beyond convenience. It directly improves the quality of coaching and player development.

“It means we can focus on how we want to play — passing, movement, patterns — rather than just adapting to poor conditions. You actually see things from training come to life in matches.”

“It means we can actually play football the right way.”

It also ensures continuity during the winter months, when many grassroots teams lose weeks of football due to weather.

“Without that support, we’d lose a lot of playing time. Instead, we can keep going — and that consistency really matters.”

More than football

While the improvements on the pitch are clear, the wider impact is what matters most.

Players develop resilience through both winning and losing. They learn how to work as a team, how to respond to challenges, and how to support one another.

“They understand what it feels like to win, and what it feels like to lose,” Rory says. “And that helps them deal with challenges beyond football as well.”

“They understand what it feels like to win and to lose — and that stays with them.”

As the current squad approaches the transition into senior football, the focus is on creating pathways — giving players the confidence and opportunity to continue their development at the next level.

Looking ahead

The ambition for Chesham United’s girls’ section is simple: continue growing, continue developing, and continue creating opportunities.

For some players, that means progressing into senior football. For others, it is about carrying forward the confidence and experiences they have gained.

And for the club, it is about ensuring that the environment remains in place for future generations.

Support from organisations like Salus plays a quiet but vital role in making that possible — not by leading the story, but by enabling it.

As Rory puts it:

“It’s created opportunities. And that’s what really matters.”