News
News update April 8, 2012
The Dallas International Girls Cup finals will take place today! After a week filled with excitement and highly contested matches ten teams remain.
In the U18/17 age group the D’Feeters ECNL U17 team from Texas will play against the Eclipse Select SC ECNL U17 from Illinois. The Eclipse Select SC ECNL U17 girls made it through their group play unbeaten. They won all three of their games before wining both the quarter-final and semi-final matches. The D’Feeters had to battle their way through group play finishing with two wins, one loss and a tie, but the D’Feeters hit their stride when it counted most, winning their last two games in a dramatic fashion on their way to the finals.
In the U17/16 age bracket we have the Eclipse Select ECNL U16 team facing off against the Ballerup-Skovlunde Fodbold representing Denmark. This is the first time in the history of the Dallas International Girls Cup that an international team has made it to the final! The girls of Ballerup have proven that they compete with some of the best clubs from across the U.S.
In the U16/15 group the Dallas Sting ECNL U15 is a familiar name by now, Eclipse Select ECNL U15 girls will play in the finals. The U16/15 bracket was one of the most competitive and diverse groups with over 20 teams, including teams from Norway, Australia, Canada, Louisiana and Florida. Both teams proved to be very strong as they maneuvered through group play to face each other in the finals.
In the U15/14 age group Liverpool 98 G Elite will play against Sting ECNL 98. Since both teams are from Texas they will have to battle for bragging rights to prove who is the top U15/14 team in Texas.
Finally in the U14/13 group we have Eagles SC from Southern California facing off against Solar Chelsea 99 from Texas. The Eagles are the favorite in this match up after cruising through group play and scoring 27 goals in the tournament. The Solar Chelsea girls are looking to keep their winning momentum moving forward into the finals.
For pictures and videos, scores and standings, and all other pertinent information regarding the tournament visit Facebook page by clicking here.
News Update April 6, 2012
The Dallas International Girls Cup continues to live up to its already sterling reputation. The competition is fierce, but the camaraderie between nations has been great! Yesterday, Ballerup-Skovlunde Fodbold of Denmark played a closely contested match against Texas Spirit North and came out on top with a final score of 2-0. Ballerup-Skovlunde is on pace to advance to be the first international team to advance to the Quarter-Finals of the tournament.
The competitive matches have attracted over 100 college coaches from top programs (see our list of colleges attending the tournament by clicking here). The college coaches along with the coaches and team managers had the opportunity to attend a reception held by the city of Farmers. The attendees enjoyed food and beverages as well as a fun mariachi band.
Tonight the girls will have the opportunity to watch the semi-finals of the Dallas Cup Super Group at Pizza Hut Park. The Dallas Cup was gracious enough to provide tickets for our girls free of charge!
Tomorrow the quarter finals and semi finals begin, and the team’s search for a championship continues. For more information, scores, pictures and videos please visit our Facebook page by clicking here.
News Update April 4, 2012
The second annual Dallas International Girls Cup, organized by the Dallas Texans and Premier International Tours, has started off with a bang! Last night the international style opening ceremonies set the stage for a great event with special guest speaker, Duke University Women’s Soccer Head Coach, Robbie Church, a special presentation from Nike and the Dallas Quintet Symphony Orchestra honored each of the 6 nations participating in the tournament by playing their national anthem.
Today the games began, and the participating teams showcased why the Dallas International Girls Cup is regarded as the most competitive international girls tournament in the U.S. Teams from all over the globe competed throughout the day and gave an inspired effort. A great example of the competition level and diversity of the tournament was displayed in the game between the Central Florida Kraze 95 from Orlando, Florida and Fortuna Hjørring from Hjørring, Denmark where both battled in a highly contested match ending in a 1-1 tie.
Later in the evening the girls enjoyed a well deserved break from their hard work on the field and were able to enjoy a fun filled night of music provided by a professional DJ and even some Texas style line dancing. This truly unique social event provides the perfect opportunities for girls from around the globe to interact and learn from each other’s cultures.
Premier International Tours and the Dallas Texans are proud to be able to put this event together, and are looking forward to some more fantastic play as the week continues!
For more news updates, photos and videos from the tournament please visit our Facebook page by clicking here.
News Update Feburary 9, 2012
Premier international Tours is proud to announce a partnership between the Dallas Texans organizer of the Dallas International Girls Cup and the Dana Cup-Fortuna Hjørring. Both organizations are partners of Premier International Tours and we are proud that we have been able to help in arranging this relationship. For more information click here.
News Update Feburary 2, 2012
The 2012 Dallas International Girls Cup program is now set! Premier International Tours in conjunction with the Dallas Texans is proud to announce this years program that promises to be bigger and better than ever. Complete with an international opening ceremony, the opportunity to see two division one women's soccer games and a festive cultural event with DJ, dancing and karaoke, this year's program will truly be one of a kind.
Please take the time to review the detailed program below.
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Mond., April 2 |
All day: Arrival of international teams. |
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Tues., April 3 |
All day: Arrival of U.S. and Canadian teams. Check-in all teams. |
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Wed., April 4 |
All day: First round tournament games (group matches). |
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Thurs., April 5 |
All day: Continuation of group matches. |
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Fri., April 6 |
All day: Continuation of the tournament as well as vendor fair at the Ross Stewart Soccer Complex. Attend college game Southern Methodist University vs Texas Christian University at the Ross Stewart Soccer Complex – 3pm. |
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Sat., April 7 |
All day: Continuation of the tournament as well as vendor fair at Ross Stewart Soccer Complex.
Evening: Attend a college game Texas A&M vs Tulsa University at the Ross Stewart Soccer Complex – 1pm.
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Sun.,April 8 |
All day: Finals, placement matches and friendly games and vendor fair. |
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Mon., April 9 |
All day: Departure of teams. |
News Update September 22, 2011
Tremendous interest from international teams:
We have been contacted by more than 20 international teams who are working towards committing to come to Dallas and participate at the 2nd Dallas International Girls Cup. Teams are meeting with their players, parents and sponsors to help finance the trip. Here are some teams in the planning stages:
Denmark: Both 2011 participants FC Horsens and Ballerup-Skovlunde Fodbold (semifinalists in 2011) have committed for 2012. Another 1-2 teams from Denmark are also considering participating.
Promotional video is ready:
Our promotional video is available now, click here to view it.
Please also like our Facebook page to check in on more updates about the tournament. Click here to go to our Facebook page and then click "Like".
News Update August 2, 2011
Congratulations to the Dallas Texans U19 Girls team, who won another National Championship for the club over the weekend.
After winning the title as an Under-16 team, the Texans outlasted Real Colorado in Sunday's Under-19 Girls' final, to win 2-1 in overtime. With less than 10 minutes remaining, Shelby Redman was brought down in the box to earn a PK for the Texans. Redman stepped up and buried the game and championship winner in the 111th minute.
News Update April 28, 2011
Premier International Tours partnered with the Dallas Texans Soccer Club to organize the first edition of the Dallas International Girls Cup, which took place April 19-24, 2011 in Texas in the Farmers Branch area in Dallas.
The tournament is the best international girl's tournament in the U.S. featuring top teams in the U14-U19 age categories from 6 different countries from around the world, including countries like Denmark, Norway, Spain, England, Canada and the U.S. Teams played a minimum of 4 games over 4 days, concluding with the final matches on Sunday, April 24, with some very closely contested and exciting final matches which were a fitting end to a spectacular tournament. Eclipse Select Soccer Club from Chicago, IL had 4 teams in the finals and went on to win 3 of the 5 age divisions. The host club, Dallas Texans Soccer Club had 3 teams in the final matches. Other top level clubs that had a team in the final included Solar Soccer Club from Dallas, TX, FC Dallas Premier from Dallas, TX and Colorado Rush from Lakewood, CO. Ballerup-Skovelund Fodbold from Denmark finished the best of all the foreign teams by reaching the semi-finals in the U16 division.
Tournament Champions were:
U14: Eclipse Select 96-97 (defeated Dallas Texans 97 Red Dallas 2-1 in the final)
U16: Solar Soccer Club ECNL (defeated FC Dallas Premier 2-0 in the final)
U17: Eclipse Select 94-95 ECNL (defeated Dallas Texans 95 G Red 1-0 in the final)
U18: Colorado Rush (defeated Eclipse Select 93-94 ECNL 3-2 in the final)
U19: Eclipse Select 92-93 ECNL (defeated Dallas Texans 93 Red 2-1 in final)
The tournament also featured a great social program around the tournament to create opportunities for the teams to interact with one another and share their passion for the game and different cultures from around the world, and of course, to get a taste of the local Texas lifestyle. The social program included the following activities:
• An international opening ceremony on April 19 which included pictures of all the teams, national anthems of all nations represented in the tournament players from each country represented gave an "oath of fair play" in their own language.
• All tournament participants visited the women's college soccer match between SMU and Oklahoma University on April 21, where SMU won an exciting match on a last minute goal!
• On April 22 during the tournament the participants were treated to a visit by a real Texan longhorn!
• All the coaches and team managers of the teams were invited to a reception especially for them on the evening of April 22 with drinks, food and a live mariachi band!
• On Saturday, April 22 we had a live country band perform at the fields and participating teams learned how to line dance and showed off their line dancing skills dancing to the band!
• Our tournament sponsors, including Nike, The Soccer Corner, Marshall's BBQ, Jimmy Johns, Farmers Branch CVB and CaptainU all shared their information and products at the tournament fields throughout the week.
Judging from the smiles seen all the girls faces throughout the week, the tournament was a fantastic experience for all participants. It was definitely sad to see the tournament come to an end and see our new foreign friends and other teams leave. But, we are looking forward to an even bigger and better tournament in 2012!
We'd like to thank our sponsors for being a part of and supporting this event and sharing their information and services with all participants.
And last, but certainly not least, we'd especially like to give a HUGE thanks to the Dallas Texans Soccer Club and its staff and team managers for all of their help and hospitality during the tournament, and making this an experience the teams won't soon forget!
To view photo's from this event as well as a detailed report please visit the Premier International Tours Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Premier-International-Tours/90708059231 and click "Like" to add this page to your "Liked" pages.
NEWS UPDATE April 8, 2011
The Dallas International Girls Cup ready for kick off!
Here are some facts to illustrate the success of the first edition of this unique event:
- 60+ teams will participate– all teams consist of girls 14-19 years old
- Teams from Spain, Canada, the USA, Denmark, Norway and England will participate at this tournament
- 50+ college coaches will attend to scout players
- More than 100 referees will referee the games. The U.S. and international referees will be of the highest level
- The tournament has partnered with Farmers Branch Convention and Visitors Bureau, NIKE, Jimmy John's, Advocare, CaptainU, Marshall's and the Soccer Corner
Dallas International Girls Cup Tournament Program:
April 19 Opening Ceremony at SMU McFarlin Auditorium for all teams and guests - 8:00PM. Special guest is Lori Walker, head coach of Ohio State (College Cup Final Four in 2010).
April 20 First round tournament games at Ross Stewart Soccer Complex.
April 21 Continuation of the tournament. Evening visit women's college soccer game between SMU and Oklahoma University at SMU Stadium - kick off 8:00PM.
April 22 Continuation of the tournament as well as vendor fair at Ross Stewart Soccer Complex with surprise guest. Evening Coaches and Team Managers reception at the Holiday Inn Select North Dallas by invite only - 8:30PM.
April 23 Continuation of the tournament as well as vendor fair at Ross Stewart Soccer Complex. Social Lunch Hour at Noon with music for all participants at Ross Stewart.
April 24 Finals and friendly games and vendor fair.
For more information, please check out our website at: http://www.premierinternationaltours.com/soccer/dallas-international-girls-cup
NEWS UPDATE February 18, 2010
The program has been finalized. Please find below detailed information.
April 19
Evening Opening Ceremony at SMU McFarlin Auditorium for all players, staff and parents - 8:00PM.
April 20
First round tournament games (group matches).
April 21
Continuation of group matches.
Evening visit college women soccer game between SMU and Oklahoma University at SMU Stadium - kick off 8:00PM.
April 22
Continuation of the tournament as well as vendor fair at Ross Stewart Soccer Complex with surprise guest.
Evening Coaches and Team Managers reception at the Holiday Inn Select North Dallas by invite only - 8:30PM.
April 23
Continuation of the tournament as well as vendor fair at Ross Stewart Soccer Complex.
Social Lunch Hour at Noon with music for all participants at Ross Stewart.
April 24
Finals and friendly games and vendor fair.
NEWS UPDATE December 30, 2010
We are close to finalizing the field of teams for the 1st edition of the tournament, and are very excited about the number of teams committed to the tournament for the first year. We have a strong international field with teams coming from Denmark, Norway, England, Spain and Canada, and we have some of the best teams from the best clubs around the United States, so this will truly be one of the most competitive international girls tournaments in the U.S., and we have achieved this in only the first year of the tournament. Thanks to all teams for your support of the tournament!
A list of participating teams can be found on the following tournament website link: http://www.premierinternationaltours.com/soccer/dallas-international-girls-cup/participating-teams
We are working on a social program around the tournament as well and hope to have some nice activities for the teams and players during the week. We will try to coordinate an event with the teams participating at the Dallas Cup at the same time as well. We will have more information soon about this social program during the tournament.
Within the next couple of weeks we will also be sending a detailed confirmation packet to each team with further instructions on what teams need to do to prepare for the tournament (travel papers and credentials required, paperwork to be filled out, etc.). We kindly ask that each team manager/coach review this information very carefully and share it with your team members to be fully prepared for the tournament.
NEWS UPDATE October 20, 2010
Top teams from all over the world commit to participate – 5 countries and 10 different states
As of today we have received many commitments from top international and US teams. As of now more than half of the tournament is filled. Please find below a listing of these clubs:
High level referees expected
Last month, our staff met with the Dallas Cup staff and had conversations with U.S. Soccer. Both the Dallas Cup and U.S. Soccer agreed to help us bring the highest level referees to the Dallas International Girls Cup.
Home stays program
Last month we also met with all team managers of the Dallas Texans participating teams to discuss the home stay program for our foreign guests. All these managers and teams are very excited about the opportunity to host a foreign team and make new international friends. All Dallas Texans host teams are planning a nice social program around the tournament games. We hope to have all teams matched up in December. After that teams and players will start communicating about meeting each other in Dallas.
Dana Cup
We would like to thank the Dana Cup for helping us promote the Dallas International Girls Cup in Norway and Denmark. Because of their efforts, 6 teams from Denmark and Norway committed to come to the Dallas international Girls Cup. If teams from North America are interested in participating at the 2011 Dana Cup, please contact us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Fortuna Hjørring, the women soccer club standing behind the Dana Cup, Hjørring tournament is well known as one of the top women teams in Europe. Fortuna Hjørring holds just some of the following titles: Silver Medallist in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2003, Danish Champions and Cup Champions 7 times. Women soccer is huge in Europe and the women all come from the youth programs found at the different clubs throughout Europe, this means one thing – the girls competition at the Dana Cup is a fantastic experience for any team.
Top teams from all over the world commit to participate at the Dallas International Girls Cup
As of today we have received many (verbal) commitments from top international and US teams. Please find below a listing of these teams as well as club information from most international teams.
From the USA:
Dallas Texans from Dallas, TX (ranked 1st in the USA)Eclipse Select from Libertyville, (ranked 2nd in the USA)
So Cal Blues from San Juan Capistrano, CA (ranked 4th in the USA)
Slammers FC from Newport Beach, CA (ranked 9th in the USA)
CASL Spartan Elite from Raleigh, NC (ranked 22nd in the USA)
From England:
Arsenal F.C.Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Watford F.C.
From Denmark:
Fortuna HjørringFC Horsens
Hillerød GI
From Norway:
Stabæk FotballArna-Bjørnar Fotball
From Canada:
One of the Canadian youth teams will commit soon.
From China:
The Beijing FA promised us to send at least 1 girl’s team to the Dallas International Girls Cup. They do not know yet what age group, but they will finalize this in the fall.Club information international teams:
FC Horsens
FC Horsens is the city of Horsens’ largest football club. This fall, the club participates with 59 teams in the Danish football tournaments. 22 of the teams are women’s or girls’ teams and 50 of the teams are children from age 5 to 18. FC Horsens was founded on January 1st 1988, as the football divisions of Dagnæs Athletic Association and Horsens B 1940 were merged. FC Horsens has since 1990 had its own club house in the southern part of Horsens next to Bankager Stadium. For years now, the club’s girls division has ranked among the region’s leading girls clubs and has contributed to taking girls football in a positive direction. The club has nearly 175 active girl players and around 35 coaches and leaders, who every day put in a lot of effort for the club. The girls division is represented in all series from U7 to U15 and in addition to that, the girls division cooperates with another Horsens club on U18 girls junior.Achievements: FC Horsens cooperates with the city’s other girls club on senior and U18 women/girls teams and between them, the clubs are licenced by The Danish Football Association to compete in the best series of the U18 Girls Division in Denmark. The team finished second last season and brought home the silver medal.
The best women team plays in 1st division – the second best series in Denmark.
The FC girls division’s finest job is to hatch out talents for the two division teams, at the same time, the club also works hard on making the club attractive to the non-elite. The motto of the girls division is: “Eventful fun with or without the ball”. The club has nearly 700 active players spread out on girls youth, boys youth and men senior as well as a corps of 100 active volunteer coaches/trainers.
Website: www.fchorsens.dk
Arsenal Ladies F.C.
Arsenal Ladies are a fully-integrated organization within the world famous Arsenal F.C., currently home to international stars such as Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie etc. Operating a Centre of Excellence for players aged 10 - 16 years, an Academy for 16 - 18 year olds, and three senior teams, Arsenal Ladies are the leading club of its kind in British Womens' Soccer providing England internationals at all levels.History: Arsenal Ladies FC were formed in 1987 by Vic Akers who was the 1st Team manager for an amazing 22 years prior to stepping down at the end of 2008/09 season and taking up a more general manager role for the club. During that time, the founding father of the club collected a staggering 33 trophies, including a domestic treble. Vic continues to be the Men’s present kit manager. The 33 major trophies include 1 Women’s UEFA Cup, 3 domestic Trebles, 12 Premier League Titles, 10 National League Cups and 10 FA Cups, further cementing the Ladies team really are the present dominant force in the English domestic game.
Achievements: Arsenal’s most decorated year was undoubtedly the 2006/07 season when they recorded their best ever achievement, securing the historic Quadruple in their 20th year. The achievement made them the first British team to ever win the UEFA Women’s Cup, beating Swedish side UMEA, who were heralded the best in Europe, 1-0 over the two legged final. The 2008/09 season saw them complete the domestic treble, their third through their 22 years and was made more remarkable after having lost 5 players midway through the season. Firstly the League cup was regained in February with a victory over Doncaster Rover Belles. Then a 2-1 victory over Sunderland won the prestigious FA cup for the 10th time at Derby FC in front of 23’033 crowd. The Championship crown was then added on the very last day of the season after a narrow 1-0 away win over Everton. In what was the closest fought campaign over recent years, with Arsenal securing the title only by a superior goal difference. That means Arsenal boost an impressive record of sixth successive years as Champions and take it to eight wins in the last nine years.
In Europe the team made it to the quarter finals where they were defeated by Umea 8-3 on aggregate. This year they will continue to represent England as the Champions in the newly re-named UEFA Women’s Champions League 2009/10, which sees two teams from each seeded country taking part
Website: www.arsenal.com/ladies
Crewe Alexandra Ladies F.C.
Crewe's Ladies team have only had the name association with the senior club for just over three years now, as prior to this they were just known as Crewe Ladies. At senior Womens' level they have maintained a very strong link with Manchester Metropolitan University who has a campus close to Crewe, but now in mutual partnership with the club Community program, the club has a full player pathway for the graduates of the licensed Centre of Excellence. They train at the Alexandra Soccer Centre on the 3G pitch that has recently been installed. They are managed by Terry Unitt, father of Rachel Unitt- England and Everton left back, and their reserve team is managed by Paul Davis, and on the pitch, they are captained by Gemma Edwards, with Chloe Jones as Vice Captain.History: The Centre of Excellence has come a long way in the last two seasons and has adopted the new F.A. Long Term Player Development philosophy. Crewe Alexandra Girls C of E has four age groups, Under 10, 12, 14 and 16. The players train twice a week on a Monday and a Wednesday evening at the state of the art Alexandra Soccer Centre in Shavington. Home games take place at the excellent facilities at Manchester Metropolitan University Cheshire - Alsager campus. After trials through the summer, where over 120 girls attended, the coaches put together four exciting squads who are to take part in a 20 game fixture program competing against Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Everton and Blackburn. The Centre also has fixtures against Stoke City, Wolves, Lincoln City and Nottingham Forest to look forward to.
Achievements: Crewe Alexandra Ladies have gone from strength to strength since forming in 1999. In the 2006 / 2007 season they featured in the Ladies' Premier League North Division, finishing the season in a very respectable fourth place, just below Liverpool and Nottingham Forest and ahead of the likes of Preston, Aston Villa and Newcastle United. Under-16 duo, Hollie Kelsh and Sherry McCue were recently selected into the England U15 squad who travelled to Germany to take on the Germans in an international 'double-header'. Although England lost both games against a powerful German team, both Hollie and Sherry were involved in the games. Both girls obviously impressed the coaching staff as they have been selected for the next England training camp which takes place at Lilleshall in late October. Also in the International limelight is recent signing Danielle Oates who has just represented Wales U17's in the Womens' UEFA Championships in Macedonia. Danielle, who joined the Alex in the summer from Tranmere Rovers, started all three games against hosts Macedonia, Belarus and England.
Website: www.crewealex.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10414~895539,00.html
Watford Ladies F.C.
Watford Ladies F.C. are based in the town of Watford to the north-west of London, and are affiliated to Watford F.C. once owned by pop star Elton John. In addition to three adult sides, the club runs seven junior squads with the target of all younger players being to perform eventually in their 1st team in the English Premier League.History: Watford Ladies F.C. in its present form is the result of a merger between Watford Ladies F.C and Watford Town Girls F.C. Watford Ladies F.C. was formed in 1970, following a number of letters received by Watford F.C. to start a ladies football team from within the supporters club. Originally, the club was known as the Supporters Club Ladies Team, but later became known as "Willy Walker Wonders" after the 2 coaches. Following the departure of John Williams, the name changed again to "Walkers Watford Wonders", and after Mike Walker’s departure, to its present name, Watford Ladies F.C. The club performed extremely well in its formative years, and was fortunate to exist during the early years of organized ladies league football. Along with Watford Borough Council, the club sought a solution to finding a home. This was found with Sun Postal Sports and Social Club, who were undergoing a major redevelopment of their Bellmount Wood Avenue ground. The then Chairman, Eric Wood-Thompson, negotiated an agreement to the benefit of both clubs and the development was completed in September 2003, allowing Watford Ladies to have a home ground for the first time.
Achievements: Under Co-managers Darren Ward and Paul Tarver, the Ladies 1st Team won promotion in 2003 to the FA Nationwide Women's Premier League - Southern Division and finished fifth in its first season of top flight football in 2004. The team narrowly escaped relegation in 2005 and in 2006 just lost out on promotion, finishing in third place. A change of management in 2006 saw the appointment of Sian Williams, the former Arsenal, Charlton and England player as Manager, who along with Coach Matt Ward took the team to new heights by gaining promotion to the FA Nationwide Women's Premier League - National Division, having won the Southern Division title by 10 points and only losing three games all season.
The club was awarded Charter Standard Club status in 2004 and has continued its growth to provide football for girls of all ages from 6 upwards. In the autumn of 2006 a link was established with Watford FC through its Community, Sports and Education Trust. A partnership agreement was signed by both clubs giving Watford Ladies their first support from the men's club since the 1970's.
These honors reflect the clubs status as the leading women’s football club in Hertfordshire.
Website: www.watfordladiesfc.com
Fortuna Hjørring
Fortuna Hjørring is a women soccer club and was started in 1966. In the start Fortuna was an extension of another club called Hjørring Frem, made up from the wives of the mens team and called a knitting club.The knitting clothes were overtime changed to shin guards and soccer boots and in 1977 womens soccer became so big that it was time to make their own club and separate themselves from Frem and this was when Fortuna Hjørring was born. Fortuna is today Denmark’s leading womens soccer club. In 1982, Fortuna’s earlier trainer, John Robert Larsen got the idea to start an international soccer tournament called the Dana Cup. The Dana Cup exists today and has become a huge success and is therefore the economical supplier to Fortuna Hjørring.
Achievements: The Northern team has many championships but the biggest sporting achievement is without a doubt, their participation in the UEFA Womens Cup Final in 2003, where Fortuna won the silver medal. A trademark for the Fortuna team is that we always have national team players from all around the World. Over the years there has been many well known players on our team from USA, Australia and Africa. Fortuna has at the moment one of their players playing with Atlanta Beat - Johanna Rasmussen. Fortuna has won the Danish Championship 3 times, the latest in 2010. Fortuna has today 350 active members in all ages and is a supplier of national players to the Danish National Team.
Website: www.fortunahjorring.dk
Hillerød GI
Hillerød GI Damer is a female soccer club who is part of a large club with more than 2200 members covering male and female soccer, gymnastics, table tennis, volleyball and basketball. Hillerød GI Damer is the largest female soccer club in the eastern part of Denmark with 300 female members. The club is situated in the beautiful Zealand north of Copenhagen in the town Hillerød – the town with the royal castle of Frederiksborg with around 50.000 inhabitantsHistory: The large club was established in 1937. The soccer department of the club was from the start only for male soccer players. But in august 1977 they established an independent female soccer department named Hillerød GI Damer. From the beginning we were the magnet for the best female soccer players in the northern part of Zealand. In 1997 we had around 120 female members and in the year 2010 we have just passed female member no. 300.
Achievements: Hillerød GI Damer have through all the years had a very fine and talented group of young players in all age groups from under 8 years up to under 18 years. Our under18 girls team was in the tournament 2009/2010 between the best 12 teams in Denmark. Our senior players have had a fantastic but also sad history. From the beginning back in 1980 we had senior female teams in the Danish top division, and in 1997 our senior team was the third best team in Denmark with 7 players in the Danish national A- team. In that year the Danish union allowed female contractual soccer – and our club unfortunately didn’t have the economical possibilities to keep all our top- players in the club. Instead the club concentrated all the efforts and money on developing our own players through all the age-groups. And today we have achieved our goal and have well educated coaches in all age groups and on all teams. So now we have our own developed and talented youngsters knocking on the door to our senior team. So in the future we will concentrate some efforts to try to come back to the top division on the senior level.
Website: www.hgi-damefodbold.dk
Stabæk Football Women
History: Stabæk football club was founded on March 16, 1912 as part of the Norwegian multi-sporting club known as Stabæk Idrettsforening (Stabæk IF). Stabæk IF is located in the municipality of Bærum, a suburb approximately ten kilometers to the west of the centre of Oslo, the capital city of Norway. Stabæk IF has a history of producing sporting teams which manage to compete at the highest level in Norway, although in recent years, it is soccer (football) for which the club has become most known. At the moment Stabæk Football has approximately 700 members, of which 200 are girls. 65 teams are competing in different tournaments, and 20 of them are for girls.The female part of the soccer activity has grown gradually over the last decade, but made a significant stage forward when Asker, one of the top teams in Toppserien (the Norwegian premier league for women), was taken over by Stabæk.
Achievements: In 2009 Stabæk ended up as number two in Toppserien and halfway in 2010 the team is in the lead. In the Norwegian national soccer team Stabæk has been represented by three to five players in all recent matches. In addition two of the players have been a part of the Danish national team. Some of the younger players have also participated in other Norwegian national teams (U23, J19 and J17). In order to promote recruitment of young and aspiring players to the main team, Stabæk has decided to establish a dedicated junior team with the ambition to develop at least two players for Toppserien every year. This is the team that will join Dallas International Girls Cup in 2011.
Website: www.stabak.no
Arna-Bjørnar Fotball
Arna/Bjørnar is a soccer club based in the Arna district of Bergen, Norway’s second city. More than 1000 boys and girls are members of the club, spread across more than 60 teams. Approximately 40 per cent of our members are females. Our flagship team is our senior women’s team who plays in Norway’s top National league, the Toppserien.History: Arna-Bjørnar Fotball is the end product of a merger between the sports clubs Ådnamarka, Bjørnar and Arna and provides the public of the Arna borough a sports club with a sole focus on soccer. The club was founded in 2000, while its predecessors have rich traditions dating back to the late 1880s. Bjørnar competed in the Toppserien well before the merger and Arna-Bjørnar has continued the strong impact on the Norwegian soccer scene. With a single season exception Arna-Bjørnar has played in the Toppserien since 1997, and regularly finished in the top half of the table. Arna/Bjørnar has twice reached the Superbowl of Norwegian soccer, losing the finals in 2000 and 2002.
Achievements: Two players with a strong link to Arna/Bjørnar were in Norway’s Olympic Winners team in Sydney 2000, who defeated USA 3-2 in the Olympic Final: Gro Espeseth was one of the pioneers of Bjørnar’s soccer childhood, while Margunn Haugenes represented Arna/Bjørnar while competing in the Olympics. Another Arna-Bjørnar player, Maren Mjelde, won the bronze medal with Norway in the European Championship in 2009. Nine different players represented Arna/Bjørnar on various international teams in 2009, from the U17 team to the full national team. In June 2010 five Arna/Bjørnar players was selected for Norway’s U23 team squad, while two were selected for Norway’s full national team to play Canada.
Website: www.arna-bjornar.no