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Boys and girl come out to play

Brian Lashley
31/10/2007

A REAL-life Gregory’s Girl who challenged the Football Association over rules that prevented her playing in a boys' team has won a place at Ashton’s new elite training centre.

Rebecca Gregory, 11, fought against rules banning her from playing in mixed-sex teams when she turns 12.

The talented youngster, who played for a boys inter-league team, launched a campaign to raise the age limit for mixed-sex teams to 14.

Rebecca’s case was championed by MP Hazel Blears and caught the attention of scouts at the new FA Centre of Excellence for Elite Girl Footballers in Ashton.

Her skills — showing echoes of the film Gregory’s Girl — wowed coaches at a trial session and she is now training twice a week with matches on Saturdays.

Mum Jane said: "The centre director Matt Johnson phoned me and told me a couple of weeks later that they wanted Becky to join the centre."

Since starting there, Rebecca — Bex to her pals — has scored five goals in matches against under-12 teams from Liverpool, Everton and Leeds.

She is benefiting from a grassroots revolution in girls’ football in Greater Manchester.

The FA has provided funding to 43 UK centres of excellence to develop girls’ football, which is the biggest team sport for females in the country.

There are 130,000 girls with clubs, and the number is growing by 10 per cent a year.

The Greater Manchester Centre of Excellence, based at Ashton, has received £30,000 and runs teams for under-10s, 12s, 14s, and 16s.

The teams play against other teams attached to professional clubs in the region, including Blackburn, Crewe, and the two Merseyside giants.

Centre spokesman Dave Mottershead said: "On a Saturday we have 200 girls playing. It is taking off tremendously."

Players or sponsors can contact Matt Johnson on 603 5278.