Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond and school minister Damian Hinds visited Swanmore School to watch to watch female pupils participating in the 2024 Let Girls Play event.
Deputy Head Amanda Griffiths welcomed both politicians to the 3rd annual FA organised event that encourages more girls to play the beautiful game across the country.
There has been transformational growth in English girls’ football since the Lionesses became EURO champions and World Cup finalists.
The FA set a target in 2020 to deliver 75% equal access to football in PE lessons by 2024 and this was met one year ahead of schedule. The country has seen a 39% increase in the number of female youth teams since 2021.
The inaugural event in 2022 saw 90,000 taking part and last year 285,000 girls took part.
Flick said: “The success of the Lionesses has really fired up the number of girls playing football and I am delighted to see so many enjoying the sport across the country and here in Swanmore School.
“All of our participants in Let Girls Play should be proud of themselves. I look forward to seeing if the number of girls playing the game this year can beat last year’s figure as that will cement the interest we have seen since the success of the Lionesses.”
Damian said: “Great to see the Swanmore College girls’ football teams being put through their paces.
“The FA’s initiative is a wonderful motivator for girls’ football as well as a recognition of just how far we’ve come in recent years.”
Amanda said: “Swanmore College has been encouraging and supporting girls’ football for several years and are very proud of the girls’ achievements, as evidenced by the 50+ pupils participating in a game in support of #LetGirlsPlay.”
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