A FOOTBALL club has been awarded £6,000 to help create more girls' teams – and has won praise from England manager Gareth Southgate.

Middleton Rangers, which trains at Eastbourne Sports Complex in Darlington, has been awarded a Grow the Game grant.

The money will be used to provide a boost to grassroots football in the town and it has paved the way for Middleton Rangers to create more girls teams – under 9s, under 10s and under 13s.

The teams will have the benefit of being able to use all the club's training facilities and new coaches will also be created, being put through coaching certificates.

England manager and Football Foundation Ambassador Mr Southgate said: "I am so pleased that Middleton Rangers has secured this Grow the Game grant.

"The club has worked very hard with Durham County FA and the Football Foundation to get more local people playing football so that they can enjoy the many physical and mental benefits that come with playing regular sport.

"Grow the Game is mainly funded by the FA and delivered by the Football Foundation.

"This is money that is flowing from the very top of the game down to the lowest levels, to help clubs at the grassroots to bear the cost of starting up a new team, whether it be for a new kit, pitch hire or sending volunteers on FA accredited coaching courses.”

Grow the Game is a £2.5m programme funded by The FA and the Football Foundation. It awards grants to grassroots football clubs that wish to create new teams, especially amongst under-represented groups.

FA-affiliated clubs can apply for £1,500 grants to help with the cost of creating a new team, which might include the cost FA coaching courses, FA league affiliation costs, referees’ fees; first aid kits and even football kit and equipment.

Andy Musgrave, Head of Girls Football at the club, said: “This grant from the Football Foundation, will give Middleton Rangers a huge boost in implementing more Girls Teams”

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman came down to meet the girls, watch them play, and to congratulate the Club on its achievement.

On her visit she said “It was brilliant to see so many girls bursting with energy and loving their football with Middleton Rangers.”