Team Rushbrook celebrates the ‘Biggest Ever Football Session’ in style

Girls at Rushbrook Primary Academy had an unforgettable experience celebrating the Football Association’s (FA) ‘Biggest Ever Football Session’.

The FA-led event was designed to inspire and empower the next generation through girls’ football.

The sessions at Rushbrook were led by former England women’s football captain, Steph Houghton MBE, renowned football freestyler, Lia Lewis, and BBC Sport senior women’s football news reporter, Emma Sanders, whose session focused on literacy.

Lisa Father, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Bright Futures, is proudly part of the first-ever Great Manchester Women’s Football Board (GMWFB). Established in 2022, the Board aims to develop girls’ and women’s football at all levels, from increasing participation at a grassroots level to supporting teams in the FA Women’s Football pyramid. Lisa enthused: “Girls at Rushbrook had an amazing morning filled with opportunities, further strengthening both their and our belief that girls and women belong in football. It’s vital for girls to be able to play and have the same enjoyment and opportunity to play football as boys. Events such as this really empower our girls while promoting physical activity and mental health.”

Rushbrook Primary Academy Principal, Matt Carroll, added: “We had such a brilliant morning, seeing the girls enjoying football, smiling, laughing and having fun with it! As a school we are hugely invested in girls’ football supported by our fantastic facilities and committed colleagues like PE Teacher, Mr Hau.”

Schools across the country were encouraged to get involved in the celebrations taking place just before International Women’s Day to highlight the importance of inclusivity in sports, showing pupils that girls belong in football.

The event came a week after the FA launched its new women and girls’ campaign, ‘Made For This Game’. The campaign follows on from the success of the ‘Let Girls Play’ campaign which, in collaboration with the Lionesses, successfully lobbied for government policy to ensure girls will be given equal access to football in schools.