A LANDMARK girls' football session has been staged at York City’s Wigginton Road training base.

Girls and boys aged between 12 and 16 held an organised mixed training session for the first time on a Football Association-sanctioned basis.

The boys from York City Academy’s Under-12s and U14s trained side by side with older groups from the North Yorkshire Girls’ Centre of Excellence, which is based at York College, under the guidance and supervision of coaches from York City’s Academy.

Hailed as a huge step forward for the development of girls’ football, the players trained for two hours developing a wide range of skills and techniques.

Former York City star Gordon Staniforth, technical director of the Centre of Excellence, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to mix the Girls’ Centre of Excellence at North Yorkshire together with the Academy here at York City, participate in structured technical coaching sessions and play some coached games, using the fantastic facilities here at York City and their academy coaches.

"What I want to do is improve the quality of girls football in North Yorkshire across the FA four corners, and playing against boys will help do that”.

York City development consultant Richard Cresswell added: “It’s something a bit different and a challenge for both girls and boys psychologically as they haven’t done it before.

"We’re looking forward to seeing what feedback we get from everybody concerned. We think it’s proactive and to be the first in the country makes a bit of noise.”