A record 130,000 girls and women have taken part in FA Girls’ Football Week in 2016.
More than 80,000 people have taken part in this week’s activity, almost four times the original target, while 50,000 people participated in April’s Girls’ Football Week.
The total was announced at an event in Birmingham, organised by Aston University and Walsall College, where more than 100 local students took part in football sessions.
FA head of women’s football Baroness Sue Campbell and England Women assistant coach Marieanne Spacey attended the event, along with Birmingham City duo Kerys Harrop and Emily Westwood, taking part in a Q&A session with the participants.
Universities, colleges, schools, community groups, clubs and other organisations across England have put on 1,485 events throughout the current Girls’ Football Week, which was created to drive female participation by encouraging academic and sports institutions and organisations to run football sessions.
Baroness Campbell said: “These figures demonstrate what a huge appetite there is for women and girls to play football when they are given the opportunity.
“We’ve committed to doubling female participation by 2020 and weeks like this will go a long way to us attracting more players into the game and building the momentum we will need to achieve that.
“We would like to thank all of the organisations that have put on sessions and those that have played football, and worked so hard to make this week such a success. Hopefully it will encourage women and girls to carry on playing the game throughout the year.”
Spacey added: “It was great to be here today and meet so many women and girls who were enjoying playing the game.
“Playing football and weeks like these offer so much more than just the game itself – it’s also the opportunity to be outside, be active and make friends. Without football organising these events, it might not be as possible.”
The week has been delivered in partnership with the Independent Schools FA, English Schools FA, Associations of Colleges Sport, British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS), the Premier League and the English Football League.
