GIRLS' football is kicking off in a big way in Poppleton.

Poppleton Junior Football Club have started a girls' section and at their first training session 20 new players aged from eight to the mid-teens turned up.

Support has come from parents and teachers and the club now hope to join the City of York GOAL initiative to provide coaching, equipment and competition.

More players are likely to sign up, while new female coaches have shown an interest in taking charge of the teams. Other girls' teams are also being sought to provide opposition.

Club treasurer John Middleton said: "We will shortly be taking on new pitches and we felt it would be unfair for the boys to have all the fun so starting a girls' team seemed the obvious way to go.

"We realised that we all knew girls who wanted to play football and while there was plenty of opportunity for the boys there was little for the girls."

Under FA regulations, once girls reach ten years old they are no longer allowed to play with or against boys, while many girls younger than that prefer to play in girls-only matches anyway.

"It's often difficult for us when you are the only girl in a large group of boys, and it is easier to play football with girls because we all get on better together," said nine-year-old Shuna Mackay.

"We wanted to find something exciting to do on Saturday mornings and football is much better that staying in bed," added 14-year-old Emma Robinson.

Poppleton JFC secretary John Colman is acting coach for the girls, but said: "We believe the girls want lady football coaches. We had a tremendous response to our first training session and three girls from Acomb Primary School even brought their teachers with them and together with footballing mums we hope they will lead the coaching sessions."

More details about football for girls at Poppleton JFC can be obtained by phoning John Middleton (01904-795826) or John Colman (01904-780026). Training sessions are held at Poppleton Community Centre between 11.15am and 12.30pm on Saturdays.

Updated: 11:48 Saturday, March 03, 2001