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Club reveals expansion plan as mascots 'queue up'

BBC Co-Manager Abbey Lyle holding a ball and talking to Thornaby FC players who have formed a circle around her on the football pitch. BBC
Thornaby FC’s decision last summer to axe women’s and girls’ teams met with a backlash

A football club is looking to expand and get more girls and women playing the game just months after a controversial decision to axe all its female teams.

Thornaby FC’s decision last summer caused a backlash and the women’s and girls’ teams were quickly reinstated.

The club has now said it has the community behind it and mascots are "queuing up" to lead its teams.

It said a new board had been appointed and new sponsors signed up.

Co-Manager Abbey Lyle said after some difficult times "the community is behind us".

"We have people queuing up to be our mascots, I think we have half of Thornaby behind us now and supporting us," she said.

Abbey Lyle smiling at the camera with the football pitch behind her. She is wearing a grey sweatshirt and a black body warmer. She has short blonde which is tied back.
Ms Lyle said the community was very supportive of the club

Lioness Beth Mead, from Whitby, spoke out after the vote to axe the women’s and girls’ teams in June.

She said it was "a horrible decision and the young girls and women deserved better".

The decision left more than 100 players without a club.

The club said at the time that the decision was not "taken lightly" and was "due to financial constraints".

Alison McGee smiling at the camera. She is wearing a white shirt and a black jacket. She has long straight black hair. The football pitch is behind her.
Ms McGee was appointed as the team's chief executive officer in June

A new board has now been formed, led by chief executive officer Alison McGee.

She said: "We’ve got an absolutely cracking bunch of women and the word is getting out that we are looking for more players."

Andy Campbell smiling at the camera. He is wearing a grey long-sleeved shirt and a blue body warmer. He is bald. The football pitch is behind him with Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge in the distance
Andy Campbell said he had good ideas to take the club forward

Former Middlesbrough footballer Andy Campbell, who played more than 50 times for his hometown club, has also joined the club as director of football.

"You still have that buzz about coming to training and the excitement of a matchday," he said.

"The legs might not work in the same way, but my brain does and I’ve still got some good ideas."

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