CRAIG Liddle has been making a name for himself as part of the Darlington defence for the past eight years but now he wants to become a success in women's football.

Though not ready to hang up his boots just yet, Liddle, 33, is behind a new sports shop specialising in equipment for the women's game - a sector of the market that has been ignored for too long in his opinion.

Based in Liddle's hometown of Chester-le-Street, Miss-Kicks opened at 135 Front Street on Monday and is reckoned to be the first shop in the country to specialise in equipment for the women's game.

He hopes to serve the needs of female footballers, young and old, who for years have had to persevere with kit designed for their male counterparts.

Liddle, who has played more than 300 games for the Quakers, said: "The girls football boots are much narrower. Companies like Nike and Reebok sell them in America but we have managed to get them imported to sell here.

"Nike have been quite good to us because they don't normally deal with smaller firms but because we're a specialist shop they have opened an account with us.

"And the shirts we are going to sell are more fitted to suit girls."

The idea for the shop was hatched a year ago and since then, Liddle and his business partner Lee Sanders have been planning the launch of Miss-Kicks.

"My friend has a shoe shop and about a year ago he had a girl ask if he sold football boots for women" said Liddle.

"He asked me if I could help but I didn't even know there was such a thing as girls' football boots.

"So we looked into it and realised just how big girls football is, there are hundreds of teams but there isn't anybody selling gear for them.

"We've already been working a lot with the local council and with Sport England to supply them with equipment. It's a massive sport now, much bigger than I thought."

To mark the opening Miss-Kicks is sponsoring Chester-le-Street Town Ladies. It caters for under-8s upwards and will also be selling kit for boys and men.

Miss-Kicks is kicking off by offering five free Mitre footballs with every kit ordered, women's or men's.

Liddle added: "I've still got my football career and my business partner still has other work commitments so we can be very competitive with our prices.

"We just want to build up contacts within the sport over the next few years and get the business off the ground."

To contact Miss-Kicks call (0191) 387 5923.