A FOOTBALL club has won more than £4,000 to encourage girls to take up the sport.

Deerness Valley Football Club (DVFC) received £4,036 from Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP) following a public vote on how the forum should spend its budget.

Established in 2003, DVFC has 15 teams for boys aged seven to 17 and one under 11s girls’ team, Deerness Valley Dragons, which played its first match last year and now competes in the Russell Foster Girls League.

It is hoped the new funding will help establish two new girls’ teams and stage training and tournaments.

Parents are also needed to run the new teams, with coaching training on offer.

Chairman Andrew Moss said: “We’re very keen to promote girls’ football and it’s really good to get the funding.”

The club trains at the Sir Bobby Robson Centre and Silver Tree Primary School, both in Ushaw Moor, near Durham.

Free weekly girls sessions will also be held at St Leonard’s RC School, Durham, on Tuesdays from January 21.

Girls in year six and below should attend at 5pm, with older girls following at 6pm.

Anyone interested in getting involved should call Mr Moss on 07939-149-574.