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Girl footballer, 11, urges FA to drop mixed-sex rule Girl footballer's mixed team campaign approved by FA
(about 9 hours later)
A Devon girl is calling on the Football Association to scrap a rule preventing girls from playing alongside boys after the age of 11. 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, has been told she must quit her team in which she is the only girl. Emily Lewis-Clarke, 11, from Newton Abbot, was told she had to quit her team in which she was the only girl.
She wants the age at which mixed sex teams are allowed raised to 13. The FA said the change was supported by its board, council and the shareholders and would come into place next season.
The FA, whose council and executive have backed the change, has declined to comment until shareholders make their decision later. After the announcement Emily said: "I'm so happy I can continue playing."
Emily plays as a defender in the Newton Abbot 66 Football Club. Emily and her team, Newton Abbot 66 Football Club presented a 6,000 signature petition to the FA shareholders meeting in London.
She has been told she must leave, despite all the managers of under-11 teams in her league supporting her. The FA made its decision at its AGM held at Wembley.
Emily, who is is presenting a 4,500 signature petition to the FA shareholders meeting, said: "I am devastated. Emily plays as a defender and said: "I've been playing football for five years and all the boys treat me the same.
"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."
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.
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."
An FA spokesperson said: "The proposal to extend mixed football to the under 13 age group is supported by the FA Board, FA Executive and FA Council. 'Huge victory'
"It is now for the FA shareholders at the FA AGM to vote either to accept or reject the proposal, with a vote in favour requiring a 75% majority. Lisa Cohen runs Tarka Football Club in North Devon and was in London with her 10-year-old daughter Shannon.
"Therefore, we will not be making any further comment at this time." "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.