Young Southampton star Jess Simpson recently took to coaching at a U13s girls session at Oasis Academy Mayfield, speaking about her experience growing up playing football.
Simpson, who is currently on loan to Women’s Super League 2 side Southampton from Manchester United, took the reins at Oasis Academy Mayfield. Simpson led the side out in an training session following the U13s girls team’s group phase success in the Utilita Girls Cup – a nationwide competition led by the EFL. The team went on to claim a victorious triumph in the final at Southampton FC’s Staplewood Training Ground, meaning they will now represent Southampton in the next round of the competition.
The final of the Utilita Girls Cup is set to be played at the historic Wembley Stadium on April 12 2026, offering the opportunity of a lifetime for these young aspiring footballers. Aston Villa goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck is among one of the many stars who have been involved in the competition in the past.
“It’s really important for U13s to have opportunities like the Utilita Kids & Girls Cup because home life and school life can be tricky at that age, and the pressures can feel quite heavy,” Simpson said on the competition’s importance. “Having an outlet like football gives them a safe space where they can enjoy themselves, switch off from everything else, and just be kids. It also lets them explore something they might grow to love later in life.”
Coaching the U13 girls in an unforgettable training session, the 2o-year-old spoke on her own experience with football, explaining how opportunities have expanded for young players over recent years.
“When I was around thirteen, I was doing swimming alongside football, as well as keeping up with school, which could be quite challenging,” Simpson reflected. “Football became my escape. A place where I could feel free and forget about everything else that was going on. Eventually, I chose football over swimming, and I’ve never looked back.
“For me, growing up, there weren’t as many opportunities as there are now. When I’m back home now, I’m involved in a coaching and development programme for young players aged thirteen and up, and they get access to really talented coaches from across Lancashire. It’s great because it gives them a clear pathway and support that I didn’t necessarily have at their age.
“It’s grown massively, especially after the women’s Euros. It’s shown the girls, the young girls who are now 13 and even younger, that there is a pathway in women’s sport, and that they can make a living out of being a footballer if they really want to. I think the investment has shown that more clubs can provide a place for them to come, play football, and just be themselves. The Utilita Girls Cup has helped inspire that too. It’s a way to inspire young girls to see what’s possible.”
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