A GIRL who turns up to football training on her own every week has made a desperate plea for others to join her so they can form a team.

Heather Simmons, 13, originally from Billingham, is a member of Middleton Rangers in Darlington but can no longer play in her team because she’s now too old.

But she is gamely turning up to train twice a week with the girls who play for the Under 13s.

The midfielder tried asking her friends at Carmel RC School to play but says they’re too shy because some of them haven’t played before.

“I tell them it doesn’t matter because it’s just fun,” said the teenager, who used to play for Norton Girls before her family moved to Darlington about two years ago.

“I have one friend who is a bit interested but she’s a bit nervous. I tell her just not worry because it’s fun. It’s a really good way to make friends. I like training and my sister is in another team, but I really want to be in my own team.”

Her coach, Jon Bicknell, said the club had joined a new league, The Russell Foster League, which have slightly stricter rules on age qualification.

There’s no problem with filling the younger girls’ teams from Under 13s to Under 10s, and the club, train at Eastbourne Sport Complex. Mr Bicknell said the success of the England women’s team had had a big, positive impact.

It’s hoped that enough players will be found born between September 1, 2002 and August 31, 2003 to enable an Under 15s team to be entered in the league next year. In the meantime there would be plenty of fun and matches to be played. Middleton Rangers are also looking for girls of all ages to join.

  • Contact Andy Musgrave, 07792-521913, andy.musgrave@btinternet.com or log on to middletonrangers.com