Teesside grassroot football clubs offer support to Thornaby FC women
Officials voted to axe its female section yesterday
There has been an outpouring of support for the female section at Thornaby FC.
We told you yesterday more than 100 women and girls have been left with nowhere to go - after officials voted to axe its female section due to 'low staffing levels'.
Many other local, grassroot football clubs have offered their facilities, such as South Park Rangers Juniors FC in Normanby, near Middlesbrough.
Daniel Joseph is the manager of Belles under 12s girl squad there and said: "Girl's football is on the up, girls need somewhere to play in the community and for the many teams that Thornaby had, to come up with that decsion, it's appalling in my eyes. Especially after the Lionesses winning the Euros.
"We've been in talks with the chairman and club secretary to expand the girl's section, so we'd openhandedly welcome all of the teams that've been affected at Thornaby to become a part of the girl's section at South Park. Keep the girls playing, keep all the teams the same and they'll still with the same coaches if the coaches want to come across.
"We want to offer this to keep girls interested in football, with the Lionesses winning the Euros and how big it's getting at professional club level. The Etihad sold out and the Emirates sold out when Arsenal were playing, so I think it's really important to keep it going for the future of the game.
"I think it's important to continue inspiring the girls. They're the future of the game. Everyone starts somewhere and works their way through the age groups. It's good fitness for them, you meet new friends and you go to tournaments together. My girls have just done a weekend in Blackpool, they got beat in the final but the smiles on their faces were incredible to see."