AN INITIATIVE to inspire girls to get involved in sport and take up football is being extended to Darlington youngsters in a bid to keep them active alongside a team of like-minded athletes.

The Football Association (FA) scheme targets girls aged between five to 11 years old to join in with the beautiful game, with the Darlington-based Middleton Rangers club leading the way for sporty schoolchildren.

The FA's SSE Wildcats Girls' Football Centres are being set up to provide girls with regular opportunities to play football, including the Rangers who play at the Eastbourne Sports Complex.

The centre set up by the FA will provide Middleton Rangers with the chance to take part in organised sessions created exclusively for girls, where they will learn and practice technical skills, dribbling and have games.

Middleton Rangers U14s player, Kiera Williams Middleton Rangers, said: “I started playing football at a similar age to a lot of the girls taking part in these sessions and that’s when my love of football began.

"It’s so important to encourage them to enjoy the game from a young age and SSE Wildcats provide a great resource for that.”

SSE Wildcats Girls’ Football sessions take place on a weekly basis, either after school or at weekends, and are designed to introduce girls to football if they have not played the sport before.

The FA has stated the initiative is hoped to inspire participants to engage with football, meet new friends, develop fundamental skills, learn new tactics and create the foundation for a lifelong love of football.

Kelly Simmons, FA participation and development director, said: “Since the launch of SSE Wildcats we have seen great enthusiasm from the girls taking part to continue learning and playing football.

"The 200 existing clubs have proved a huge success and we are pleased to be able to considerably grow the size of the initiative in 2018, offering a much higher percentage of girls across the country the opportunity to enjoy football in a safe and inspiring environment.”

Each SSE Wildcats Girls' Football Centre will also offer family sessions for parents, carers and siblings to take part in activities.

To book session with the Middleton Rangers, contact Andy Musgrave by calling 07792-521913.