County Durham school pupils kick off with FA

Pupils at the County Durham school wrote to the FA Credit: ITV

Pupils at a County Durham school have written to the Football Association, criticising suggestions which are designed to encourage women and girls into the game. The ideas in the FA document include playing music and allowing girls to check their mobile phones during sessions.

The Association says it spoke to a range of people before drawing up the suggestions, which are aimed at young women who don't currently play football.

Girls at Lumley Junior School play football. In a recent project, year 5 and 6 pupils were asked their thoughts on suggestions from the Football Association to encourage more women and girls to get on the pitch.

Within a five page document from the FA were the following ideas:

  • Use colourful bibs - make sure that they're clean and smell nice!

  • Allow girls the time to check their phones within a session

  • Use female friendly branding and colouring on your marketing materials

The document also includes a series of suggested slogans, to encourage girls and women to take part in football. They include 'get together with the girls' ...'Here come the girls' and 'You won't even notice you're getting fit'

The ideas brought strongly worded responses from the pupils.

Away from this specific issue, one sport scientist says it's vital to keep encouraging women to take part.

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The Football Association says it's pleased to see a 'passion' for the game at Lumley Junior School; a feeling has been demonstrated not only on the pitch, but in the pupils' letters which have been sent to FA headquarters.