‘Shocked’ MP urges girls to get on ball
THE MP was shocked to discover that no schools in Hyndburn were taking part in a major Football Association initiative to get more girls playing the game.
Sara Britcliffe was sent information from the sport’s overall governing body about its #LetGirlsPlay campaign.
A special nationwide event, dubbed the ‘biggest ever’, will take place on March 9 as the FA tries to get as many girls as possible playing football on the same day.
She has now written to every headteacher in Hyndburn urging them to sign up to the initiative.
The FA’s #LetGirlsPlay Biggest Ever Football Session is being organised as England prepares to host the
UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 tournament this summer.
Ms Britcliffe said: “I am also encouraging schools that do now take part to send me photos, so that I can raise awareness of the day.
“We have fantastic schools in Hyndburn and Haslingden. I am sure that now they are aware of this event taking place on the 9 March, many of them will jump at the opportunity to show that football is as much as
girls’ game as it is a boys’.
“I have always been a keen football fan. I regularly attend matches and I know how vital it is we get more girls playing football.
“We saw the way that the men’s EURO 2020 campaign, much of it hosted in the UK, captivated the public en route to the final. I sincerely hope that the women’s tournament can have the same effect.”
With only 63 per cent of schools offering football equally to boys and girls, the FA is using the EURO 2022 tournament to raise awareness of this inequality and get more girls playing football.