31,126 girls and women have signed up to play football as part of the week – 9,000 more than the original target of 22,000.

So far, 570 organisations will run sessions throughout the week, which takes place from 10-16 October.

In April more than 52,000 girls took part in the first week’s activities in sessions delivered in schools, clubs, community groups and wider organisations across the country, double the original target of participants.

Next month additional focus will be on encouraging higher and further education establishments to put on female-specific sessions at the start of their academic years.

Organisations can still register via FAGirlsFootballWeek.com, where they will be able to access a range of materials including session plans and ideas and promotional tools.

The weeks are being delivered in partnership with the Independent Schools FA, English Schools FA, Association of Colleges Sport, British Universities and Colleges Sport, the Premier League and the English Football League.

Kelly Simmons, FA director of football participation and development, said: “These figures demonstrate just how much appetite there is to get more women and girls playing football.

“With a month to go, we’re confident that we can get even more organisations and academic institutions signed up to take part and hopefully continue to run football sessions throughout the rest of the year.”

Football is the largest female team sport in England with more than 2.89m players. There are more than 5,900 women’s and girls’ teams playing affiliated club football.

If you would like more information on Girls Football Week or opportunities available to participate in women and girls football, within Birmingham FA region contact Women and Girls Football Development Officer Rafe Turner:
Rafe.Turner@birminghamfa.com
0121 357 4278 Ext: 226