It’s hard enough to start a football team from scratch, it’s even harder to do in the middle of a Global pandemic. But that is what John Gontier did, when he executed his plan for the first women only football team in Gibraltars known history. Now, this couldnt have been done without the much help starting with player recruitment by the players themselves, especially Lauren Tomsett and Amanda Jackson along with our current coaches Ernest Tomsett and Anthony Celecia not forgetting all others who have contributed to our making.
With the desire to unite the female community and serve Gibraltar. Gibraltar Wave is committed to positively impact and develop women`s football, empower women, and build community through this beautiful game. Gibraltar Wave is not only Where girls are encouraged to play the game, but they are also given the platform to thrive and to perform with much assistance from all concerned at the Gibraltar FA. We believe the game we love has the power to be a force for good.
This community feel was felt from day one and was dedicated to paving the way for women of Gibraltar to have a wider avenue for a healthier lifestyle for body and mind through sports. Gontier had the challenge of not taking a single player from any of the other four teams in the women’s league but to work on bringing back and bringing new players to women`s football. The goal is to develop women’s football on the Rock, not delude the product by taking players from the other teams. The current 24 players in the team are either completely new to football or have not played football for a few years.
The team took a step by step approach to it’s creation. The first was to make it’s debut as a Futsal team and then grow into the team that we all know as the Gibraltar Wave FC.
The team had some success in it’s inaugural Women’s League season as well as in its first futsal season but especially made a splash at Beach Soccer where the family and fun feel of the club helped win its first trophy in it’s short history winning the only Beach Soccer Charity Tournament.
Gibraltar Wave has been approached by so many girls and women wanting to join that rather than making one strong team for the recently started futsal league, we have decided to continue giving chances introducing new players to football by registered two teams, Gibraltar Wave Blue and Gibraltar Wave Yellow.
As a result of winning the The Beach Soccer Charity Tournament the team has been invited to participate in the Euro Winners Cup the UEFA Champions League of Beach Soccer taking place in in June 2022 in Nazare Portugal and broadcast to a worldwide audience.
Beach Soccer is a spectacular newly Olympic sport that most contributes to a healthy body and mind due to its energetic characteristic and played on a surface associated with paradise, holiday and relax. It is also the cheapest sport to play as it’s played barefoot while the bonus comes in the way of a foot massage while playing!
Gibraltar can take advantage of it`s Eastern and Sandy Bay beaches plus the good weather to work at becoming one of the top nations at Beach Soccer. Also, Gibraltar can be a great venue for top events as it`s probably the only place on earth where you can go from the airport to the hotels, beaches, stadium, shops and even a nature reserve all on foot. This is of great convenience and saves logistic costs and headache.
Football and especially Beach Soccer isn’t just a game. It’s part of life, it’s part of growing the community.
The most difficult task has been to get sponsors on board. Softi Wellness Gummies and http://peak-mockgbr.biz/ along with blocksport.io who are building a wonderful App for the club are kindly contributing to our growth as well as the moral support of Eco Wave Power who are producing electricity from Waves here in Gibraltar. To be able to take the girls to the UEFA Beach Soccer Champions League, we do need good brands to get involved.
Join us on our journey.