A JUNIOR football club is set to launch an under-10s girls and under-18s boys teams after netting a £4,500 grant.

Thirsk Falcons Junior FC landed the funds as part of a drive by the sports charity Football Foundation, which is aiming to increase the number of female and disabled players and males aged 15 and above, to address the decline in participation that has traditionally occurred as young people leave school and college.

The Grow the Game grant will also support additional teams across all the club's existing age groups, enable new coaches to achieve their FA Level 1 and existing coaches to develop further.

The Premier League and The FA fund the Grow the Game scheme with £1.9 million, which is run by the foundation.

A spokesman for the charity said the key strength of Grow the Game scheme is that its participation increases were sustainable.

Thirsk Falcons chairman Wayne Sowden said the club already had a number of girls playing and there was a growing demand for a dedicated girls team.

He said: "Football is now officially the biggest female team sport in England and the quality of football being played by these up and coming players is very impressive."

For details, visit thirskfalcons.org.uk