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Girl footballer's mixed team campaign approved by FA | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A Devon girl is celebrating after her campaign to raise the age limit for mixed sex teams from 11 to 13 was accepted by the Football Association (FA). | |
Emily Lewis-Clarke, 11, from Newton Abbot, was told she had to quit her team in which she was the only girl. | |
The FA said the change was supported by its board, council and the shareholders and would come into place next season. | |
After the announcement Emily said: "I'm so happy I can continue playing." | |
Emily and her team, Newton Abbot 66 Football Club presented a 6,000 signature petition to the FA shareholders meeting in London. | |
The FA made its decision at its AGM held at Wembley. | |
Emily plays as a defender and said: "I've been playing football for five years and all the boys treat me the same. | |
"Sometimes the teams we play think 'oh she's a girl, she'll be easy to beat' but then they soon learn." | "Sometimes the teams we play think 'oh she's a girl, she'll be easy to beat' but then they soon learn." |
Emily's mother Michelle said: "She can stand up for herself and can play equally as well as the boys. | Emily's mother Michelle said: "She can stand up for herself and can play equally as well as the boys. |
"She earns her place in the team on merit." | "She earns her place in the team on merit." |
'Huge victory' | |
Lisa Cohen runs Tarka Football Club in North Devon and was in London with her 10-year-old daughter Shannon. | |
"We had an awful lot of support from the shareholders and the members and we're really happy with the results. | |
"We've achieved a huge victory today," she added. | |
Ms Cohen said she was elated her daughter could continue to play in mixed sex teams. | |
Shannon Cohen said she was "really pleased" that the team could stay the same. | |
The limit for mixed sex teams is 15 in Scotland, 12 in Wales and there is no limit in Northern Ireland. | |
On the continent girls often play in mixed sex teams until the age of 18. |