FEMALES in the North-East are being urged to get more of a kick from the country's most popular team sport.

The Football Association's Girls Football 2001 roadshow kicked-off in the region yesterday.

The visit attracted more than 150 young female players from across the North-East.

The Newcastle Football Centre, at Benwell, was the setting for the latest stop in a nationwide tour, which is aimed at making football the top female sport in Britain by 2004.

The players were given expert guidance from professional coaches during the five-hour session.

They also had the opportunity to watch some of the top women players in action in an exhibition match against a team of local males.

Female football is slowly growing in popularity in Britain, after its inclusion in recent Olympic Games and the recent women's World Cup, which was held in the US.

Fulham last year became the first professional women's team in the country, but others are expected to follow suit in coming seasons.

The Girls Football 2001 festivals are being staged to tie in with England's participation in the European Championships, meeting Russia, Sweden and hosts Germany.