More than 120 players attend Canterbury Eagles-organised women and girls’ football celebration event

More than 120 players attended a Canterbury Eagles-organised women and girls’ football celebration event.

Teams from the Eagles girls’ youth section took part in training sessions and friendly matches this month, along with the women’s first team and the club’s recreational section - Canterbury Old Bags United.

The club, which have provided grassroots football since 1979, only started a female section three seasons ago with two teams entering the Kent Girls’ League.

They hope to have eight youth teams, plus a senior women’s side, for the forthcoming season.

Eagles’ women and girls’ football development lead Jo Treharne said: “Our female section has absolutely exploded in the last couple of years.

“We’ve got some amazing coaches, too, and our parents are wonderful, but the lack of training facilities means we can’t expand any further and we’re really struggling to find winter pitches for all our squads.”

Eagles’ female section used to train on a Saturday morning but Treharne says that’s becoming impossible due to player development.

She said: “Our aim is to get as many local girls playing football as possible as we know how transformative it can be for both physical and mental health but we are literally turning people away.”

The event saw the Eagles’ under-13s play East Kent Roses while the Old Bags’ walking team beat Margate 8-0.