£50,000 boost for girls' football

The cash, from the UK's largest sports charity, the Football Foundation, will fund a development officer to organise coaching and competitions for young players.

And in addition a North Yorkshire league will be established for young players across the county.

The North Yorkshire Sports Partnership will be building on the work already begun by a number of local authorities in the region

And it will be targeting more than 1,000 new players as well as developing links with clubs and schools to provide professional coaching and soccer festivals.

The Partnership's active sports manager, Andrew Gair, said the funding would allow them to build on foundations already established through a number of programmes, including their own Youth Games and council and school coaching.

"The new officer will bring the sport together and lead its ongoing development across England's largest Sports Partnership," he said.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the programme 75 new coaches will be recruited and developed over the next five years.

Additionally 100 volunteers will be recruited and given support and training to support the development of up to 27 girls' football clubs.

The Football Foundation is funded by the FA Premier League, the Football Association, Sport England and the Government, and has a £53m budget.

Its aim is to revitalise the game at grass roots level, create modern facilities and to develop the game as a force for social cohesion and a vehicle for education.

Director of community development, Mandy Ayres, said: "The dramatic rise of the women's game means that football is now the most popular sport played by females in this country and the Football Foundation is delighted to be playing a major role in its development.

"Working with our colleagues in the FA and through groups such as the Yorkshire Sports Partnership we are ensuring a bright future for the female game."