A competitive youngster has proved that girls can be as good as boys at football after recently becoming the first girl to win a contract with Darlington Football Club's Boys' Academy.

Ashleigh Leighton, nine, has signed a contact which ties her to the club for the next year - fending off the attentions of any other interested parties.

Ashleigh, of Geneva Terrace, Darlington, who is the only female member of the Spraire Lads football team at Feethams, was informed that she had won the contract after completing a six week training course.

Darlington Football Club hopes to one day have its own girls' only academy.