TRAILBLAZING football-mad girls are celebrating a boost to the sport in North Yorkshire.

The under-tens are part of the North Yorkshire Girls Football Centre of Excellence and are delighted that the centre has been officially licensed by the national FA.

It means they are joined by under-12, under-14 and under-16 girls and will benefit from coaching, facilities and a full fixture programme against other centres of excellence in the North.

The modern North Yorkshire centre, based at York College, attracts girls from the districts of Scarborough, Ryedale, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Harrogate, as well as York.

It is sponsored by care provider Carewatch (North and East Yorkshire), whose managing director, Mike Padgham, said: "Official recognition from the FA will move the centre forward, bring in girls from different age groups, establish proper fixtures, help to give the girls the best possible coaching and take the whole thing to a new and exciting level.

"There is a very strong link between physical and mental health, with football in particular being cited as a great way to keep mind and body alert.''

Mark Coulson, county development manager for North Riding FA, said: "Previously, girls who wanted to develop their football to the highest level had to try to get in to the centres of excellence in Leeds and Middlesbrough.

"Now, North Yorkshire will have its own officially registered centre, enabling the teams to play other centres across the North.

"Centres of excellence are an established pathway to senior women's football and the full England squad and it is tremendous that the centre is to be licensed by the FA.

"This will give girls the best chance to develop and reach their full potential.''