- Belvoir Drive hosts Half-Term Holiday Camp for local children
- Participants enjoyed five days full of footballing activities
- LCFC Women and LCFC Development Squad players attended
- Emile Heskey and Filbert Fox both made appearances too
The second edition of the highly successful camps, following an inaugural run over the summer, saw over 70 children aged 7-14 enjoy five fun-filled days at the women’s training base earlier in October.
On Wednesday, Foxes duo Erin Simon and Aileen Whelan headed into the indoor dome, posing for photographs and signing autographs ahead of football sessions, as part of the programme’s package.
Speaking to LCFC TV at the camp, Whelan commented: “It’s really good to see such good numbers in here. It just gives them an opportunity to see what a professional set-up looks like and to see the facilities.
“Looking back, it’s just so good to know that there are opportunities when there probably wasn’t for me when I was that age back then. It’s nice to encourage people to come along and show them what they can achieve if they put their minds to it.
“Especially here, there’s things going on in the holidays, so there’s always something they can look forward to. The more they go into schools and tell their friends about it, then people are going to get involved."
Following England's success at the UEFA European Championships on home soil this summer, women's football continues to grow and grow, with role models for young girls to look up to, including those in LCFC Women's ranks.
City's captain added: “As our players keep coming in and showing their faces and talking about their experiences, it keeps inspiring the next generation. That’s what we want to do.
“Every girl has got an opportunity to just let them dream big and that they can try and achieve themselves in the future. It’s just something they can reflect on and show their friends again what they’ve got to do and hopefully that encourages more girls to get involved.”
Led by LCFC Women and LCFC Academy coaches, there was plenty of football-based fun to be had across the week, such as skill sessions, passing drills, shooting, dribbling and mini tournaments.
The budding future Foxes were treated to further appearances from Leicester City stars across the week, including Ellen Jones, Demi Vance, Monique Robinson and Natasha Flint, as well as Leicester legend Emile Heskey also appearing for a Q&A.
Leicester City Development Squad pair Chris Popov and Tom Wilson-Brown headed down to Belvoir Drive for a chat with the attendees too, while Club mascot Filbert Fox joined in with the fun.
LCFC Women are next in action against Liverpool on Wednesday evening, facing the Reds at Pirelli Stadium in a 7pm BST kick-off, with tickets available on the gate.