ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate has heaped praise on Tadley Calleva Girls and its focus on encouraging girls to get into football.

Tadley Calleva Girls is celebrating after being awarded a £3,000 Grow the Game grant, which will help boost to girls grassroots football in Tadley.

The grant will pave the way for the club to engage more girls in football.

Mr Southgate, who has strongly been involved with developing the future of football in England, said: “I am so pleased that Tadley Calleva Girls have secured this Grow the Game grant.

“The club has worked very hard with Hampshire FA and the Football Foundation to get more local girls playing football so that they can enjoy the many physical and mental benefits that come with playing regular sport.”

Grow the Game is a £2.5 million programme funded by the Football Association (FA) and the Football Foundation.

It awards grants to grassroots football clubs that wish to create new teams, especially amongst under-represented groups.

If awarded a grant, the money can go towards helping a club to get FA coaching courses, kits and training equipment.

Tadley Calleva Girls manager Amanda Davies, said: “We are looking to create girls teams for all age ranges, from four to 16-years-old, expanding on our current girls training sessions where we have an under sevens group and an eight years plus group.

“Tadley Calleva Youth Football Club has generously dedicated the Pineapple Playing Fields in Baughurst as the home for girls football, providing a superb environment for both girls and boys to train on floodlit pitches throughout the whole season.

“We have many dedicated FA qualified coaches, both male and female, who train our girls and boys weekly.

“With this grant, we will be able to put more dedicated volunteers through the FA Level 1 course, to work with the ever growing demand for our girls teams, allowing more opportunities for girls to play at all age groups.”

Tadley Calleva chairman, Andy Granston said: “The grant that we have received from the Football Foundation will help us to promote and grow the girls section of our club.

“The money will go towards playing and training.”