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Nine-year-old girl's rise through boys football

Listen on Sounds: Nine-year-old Iris from Eccleshall F.C. has signed for the juniors at Women's Super League club Aston Villa

A nine-year-old footballer who has been playing in boys teams since she was four is “enjoying her football even more”, having broken into Aston Villa’s girls’ team.

Iris's father Kieran explained this was one of the few opportunities she has had to play in an all-female side.

"She's always been in boys teams," he said, "as she's getting a little bit older that's something else she's had to overcome, being the only girl."

Her coach, Dan Chell, said: "When she first started you'd get the comments about 'ooh a girl on the team', until she played and then it was soon quiet."

Since she began playing football, Iris has been in boys sides at Newcastle Town, DNA Academy, Eccleshall Eagles and now Eccleshall FC

Apart from a brief spell playing for Stoke City Girls, signing for Aston Villa in September was her big opportunity playing in an all-female side.

"She gets to play with with high quality girls all around her," said Kieran, "I just think she enjoys it even more."

Iris added that playing for Villa was "fun".

The family and Aston Villa are happy for her to continue with her local boys' side, playing as often as six times a week to develop her game even further.

A girl with blonde hair tied back in a tail is running towards three boys with a football at her feet on an astro turf. She is wearing a dark purple England football kit and an orange bib. One of the boys is wearing a red Manchester United kit with white shorts, another is wearing a green and white t-shirt with black shorts and socks and another boy is wearing a full lime green Arsenal kit. A man in a blue tracksuit top and black bottoms can be seen in the background.
Iris on another darting run whilst training in Eccleshall

Mr Chell has enjoyed the satisfaction of opposition managers underestimating Iris's talents, but said that was now a thing of the past.

"It's completely changed now because everyone's aware of Iris," he chuckled, "I'm convinced she'll make it all the way."

Mr Chell is keen to develop a girls' side at Eccleshall FC next year, hoping to harness the same passion for the game that Iris has expressed.

Women's and girls football participation officer for the Staffordshire FA, Dani Taylor, said 4% of female players in Staffordshire played within the emerging talent centre network, a significantly higher proportion than in the men's game.

Ms Taylor said the Staffordshire FA was excited by the new four-year nationwide strategy to further develop the girls' and womens' game.

They have already seen strong growth in the number of female role models coming forward for grassroots coaching roles.

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