Footballers team up with Disney

England goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain has backed a campaign calling on young girls to recognise the “fearless” traits of Disney princesses.

The international footballer, part of the England squad competing in the European Championships in the Netherlands, said the traditional “pink and flowery” traits linked to princesses should be countered.

She said: “We’re trying to raise the profile of the game and get more girls inspired to start playing football.

“Obviously princesses can sometimes be seen as pretty and pink and flowery and they are not perceived the way they should be and for us it’s channelling our inner princesses to show that being one is also being fearless, determined, confident and brave.”

The Dream Big campaign with Disney is part of a fresh drive to grow participation among girls at grass-roots level.

Chamberlain, who admitted her favourite Disney film is Beauty And The Beast, said: “We can grow the game if we can inspire young girls and young boys to play football, even if it’s a small number of girls we can inspire to play football and be more active then that’s success for us as well.”

She added the England squad, who beat Scotland 6-0 in their opening fixture, had been watching Disney movies when in the treatment room.

Other players involved in the campaign include captain Steph Houghton, Ellen White, Nikita Parris and Lucy Bronze.