Four City players attended the FA Girls' Football Festival, as hundreds of girls descended on Platt Lane Complex.

The event - aimed at increasing and retaining girls’ participation in the game - provided an excited, interactive football experience for players and newcomers to the game.

Young athletes had the opportunity to meet some of the biggest starts of the FA Women’s Super League, including Blues stars Jane Ross, Ella Toone, Ellie Roebuck and Marie Hourihan,

The quartet took part in a Q&A session at the end of the festival, inspiring the girls and giving advice on how to get involved.

Striker Ross commented: “The FA Girls’ Football Festival is a brilliant way to celebrate the development of the female game, particularly at grassroots level.

“The event reflects just how much women’s football has improved over recent years.

“The festivals are providing a great opportunity nationwide for girls to participate.

“All round, the afternoon was fantastic and it’s great to see how much support and effort has been put in to making it happen.”

The festival brought together schools from across the city and was organised through the support of the Manchester County FA. Girls aged between five and 16 years from various schools in the county were invited to test their skills in a range of activities combining football, fun and music.

FA-approved coaches led the event, with a number of FA staff and volunteers also there to help out on the day. Sessions from the FA Skills team included drills, interactive games and mini matches.

In addition to the range of activities, Charlotte Lade, one of the world’s leading professional football freestylers, was on hand throughout the day, demonstrating her amazing tricks. 

Caroline Hulme, National Women’s Football Project Manager at the FA reflected: “It is fantastic to see so many young girls enjoying playing football here in Manchester - some of whom it is their first experience of the game and may even be the very first time they have kicked a ball.

“Thank you to the Manchester County FA for all the hard work they have put in leading up to the event to ensure girls in the County have the opportunity to play.

“As a result, we hope to see these girls continuing to play football in the future.”

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