Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster welcomed hundreds of girls from all over the county to take part in a free FA Girls’ Football Festival this week, organised through the support of Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA.

Girls aged between five and 16 years, from various schools across Doncaster were invited to test their skills in a range of activities combining football, fun and music. The festivals are a joint initiative by The FA and Continental Tyres, providing an exciting, interactive football experience for both those new to the game and regular players.

"To have over 300 girls and 32 school teams join us in Doncaster is simply fantastic"

Sarah Wood, Football Development Manager at Sheffield and Hallamshire FA said "We're absolutely delighted with the turnout at today's FA Girls' Football Festival. To have over 300 girls and 32 school teams join us in Doncaster is simply fantastic. We hope to see more girls football in primary schools as well as an influx of new players joining local grassroots clubs. It's clear that everyone's enjoyed themselves and we hope we've inspired the next generation of footballers".

Emily Simpkins, Jess Sigsworth and Rhiannon Roberts who play for Doncaster Rover Belles attended the festival, and were on hand to discuss life as a semi-professional female footballers and give advice on how to get involved in the game, finishing the festival with an inspirational question and answer session.

"The girls here today have had the opportunity to try all aspects of football and also had the chance to meet their role models from the female game"

The festival offered a range of innovative equipment, including a speed cage, target shoot, quick feet and batak boards, plus Charlotte Lade, one of the world’s leading professional football freestylers, who throughout the day, demonstrated her amazing tricks and skills.

Caroline Hulme, National Women’s Football Project Officer at The FA said “We are delighted to be delivering yet another season of FA Girls’ Football Festivals in association with Continental Tyres. The festivals have given thousands of girls the opportunity to try football in a fun and safe environment. The girls here today have had the opportunity to try all aspects of football and also had the chance to meet their role models from the female game. We hope that we have inspired these girls to seek further football opportunities following today, supporting our aim in doubling female participation by 2020.”

• FA Girls’ Football Week (6th-12th November) – an opportunity to run events and raise the profile of girls’ football locally
• Wildcats Club in Doncaster at The Keepmoat Stadium, Saturdays 12:00-1:00 pm, for girls aged 5-11 years old
• Find your local club - //www.thefa.com/play-football or contact Sarah.Wood@SheffieldFA.com

For more information on women’s football and where to play please visit www.TheFA.com/ForGirls