Espergærde IF’s very talented girls’ year group ’04 got a great experience when Superliga coach Christian Lønstrup took over their training on Monday evening. Espergærde IF has over 40 girls in the club at present, spread over three age groups.
Year group 04, which Lønstrup coached, won the Zealand championship in the U-13 girls’ category last season.
Flanked by the girls’ regular coaching staff, Tony Jørgensen and Henrik Brag, as well as team leader Lise-Lotte Jørgensen, the EIF girls were first put through ball training and warm-up, and then finished with match training with two teams, in two periods of fifteen minutes each.
Ball skills training
Guest coach Lønstrup was enthusiastic about the task and the team’s enthusiasm.
It was fun to try. I was impressed by the level. They were good on the ball, they listened to what was said, and they worked hard both with the ball and in the duels. They were better than I had dared hope, especially on the ball.
Lønstrup explains how the two teams should line up, and how the game should be played.
Ball battle between “blue team” and “yellow team”
Coach Tony Jørgensen was really pleased with the visit.
I happened to strike up a conversation with Lønns about our project out here when I met him at a training session, and he very much wanted to drop by and see what the girls could do. It was super positive that he bothered to come out here, and it was very inspiring for the girls to have him visiting. Henrik and I have tried to gather all the best girls in these age groups here in Espergærde, and we have girls from all over North Zealand. Espergærde, Hornbæk, Snekkersten, Nivå, etc. It is a project that follows what they have tried at FC Helsingør, where resources are brought together in one place for the benefit of all. These girls are dedicated, hardworking and have a great team spirit. It is our hope that we can create a culture out here where we can attract the best girls’ players, and in the longer term get a license, so the girls can be matched properly.
There is an evaluation after the match, and Lønns hands out both praise and tips for improvement.
FCH director Janus Kyhl is pleased that the head coach comes out to the local clubs.
-We are always delighted to come out and visit the clubs in the local area, and we are very impressed by the work being put into girls’ football, not only in EIF, but throughout the entire region. Christian (Lønstrup, ed.) had some great hours in Espergærde, and was quite impressed by the level. It is an area within football that has changed enormously for quite some time now, and we follow the development with great interest. There is no doubt that girls’ football has huge potential, which will only grow in the coming years.
