LUDLOW Town Juniors are looking to give girls ‘a better opportunity to play football’ after receiving a £1,500 ‘Grow The Game’ grant from the Football Association.

Juniors have several boys’ sides in their ranks but are now launching a girls’ team this season – and they plan on setting up two further girls’ sides next year.

Simon Vickers, club chairman, said: “It’s fantastic to receive this grant from the Football Foundation.

“We have been really successful with our boys’ teams especially in recent years and we now want to look at giving girls a better opportunity to play football.

“Women’s football is the fastest growing sport in the UK at the moment and the girls in South Shropshire should have the opportunity to play.”

The grant will help cover the cost of facility hire, kit, equipment and educating the new coaches and developing the current coaches.

‘Grow the Game’ is a programme funded by The FA and delivered by the Football Foundation.

It awards grants to grassroots football clubs wishing to create new teams, especially among under-represented groups.

England Women and Arsenal striker Danielle Carter is a big advocate of the ‘Grow the Game’ and praised Ludlow for branching out into girls’ football.

She said: “I would like to congratulate Ludlow Town Juniors on working with the Football Foundation and Shropshire FA to secure a Grow the Game grant.

“Playing in an all-female team from a young age was key to my development, so I am delighted that there will be more opportunities for women and girls in the local area and wish Ludlow Town Juniors good luck during their debut season!”

Since it was launched in 2010, the Grow the Game scheme has attracted a total of 210,192 new football players into playing regular football.