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FA backs down over girls in team FA backs down over girls in team
(about 1 hour later)
The Football Association is to allow two banned girls into an under-12 football team after their teammates went on strike in their support.The Football Association is to allow two banned girls into an under-12 football team after their teammates went on strike in their support.
FA rules mean children cannot normally play in mixed teams, but Birchwood Juniors had been allowed to field a mixed squad as part of a pilot study.FA rules mean children cannot normally play in mixed teams, but Birchwood Juniors had been allowed to field a mixed squad as part of a pilot study.
But the association told the Warrington side to drop the girls after paperwork for this season went missing.But the association told the Warrington side to drop the girls after paperwork for this season went missing.
However, following the boys' strike, the FA acknowledged an admin error.However, following the boys' strike, the FA acknowledged an admin error.
Coach Paul Owens said the ban had been a "bitter blow" to the team.
But he said: "It made me very proud to see how united they were as a team."
The FA Mixed Football Committee met on Tuesday and said Liverpool County FA "are fully behind" the Birchwood team.The FA Mixed Football Committee met on Tuesday and said Liverpool County FA "are fully behind" the Birchwood team.
It gave the girls "retrospective dispensation" to carry on playing in the team.It gave the girls "retrospective dispensation" to carry on playing in the team.
Some of the girls are better than the lads here Kyle Higham, 12 Boys strike over girlsSome of the girls are better than the lads here Kyle Higham, 12 Boys strike over girls
Earlier, one of the 12-year-old girls, Kara Hunt, said it was "unfair" that she and Sophie Ellis had had to hang up their boots halfway through the season.Earlier, one of the 12-year-old girls, Kara Hunt, said it was "unfair" that she and Sophie Ellis had had to hang up their boots halfway through the season.
"It's been a bit hard because I don't know if I'm going to be able to play or not," she said. Her father Graham said his daughter was "devastated" at the earlier decision.
"It means a lot because they are all my friends and I like playing with them because it's my local team." He said: "But all that is forgotten now and she's looking forward to winning the league with her team."
Teammate Kyle Higham, 12, backed the girls. Teammate Kyle Higham, 12, had been among the boys backing the girls.
"I don't know why they shouldn't be able to play because it's just the same. Some of the girls are better than the lads here.""I don't know why they shouldn't be able to play because it's just the same. Some of the girls are better than the lads here."
The local FA in Liverpool had said it had not received the paperwork to cover the girls' insurance.The local FA in Liverpool had said it had not received the paperwork to cover the girls' insurance.