Norfolk FA says the World Cup can help to make football more inclusive
The Lionesses' campaign gets underway on Saturday against Haiti
The governing body of women's football in Norfolk says the Women's World Cup can help to make the sport more inclusive for everyone.
The tournament kicked off yesterday in Australia and New Zealand, and the Lionesses' campaign gets underway on Saturday against Haiti.
"It's really taken off over the last year"
Anna Larkins is football development officer at the Norfolk FA:
"Since the success of the Lionesses last summer, the women's game has grown and grown across Norfolk and the country. There's been a steady increase over the last 10-15 years, but it's really taken off over the last year.
"So many more people will be following the World Cup, this time around. Even though it's on the other side of the world I think they'll hopefully feel that support from everybody back home.
"We know they've got the quality, so hopefully they can do it."
"These are all good problems that we can definitely work around"
She continued: "In the shorter term it's all about finding places for new teams to play, when you've suddenly got a big influx of new players.
"It's also about finding clubs that can take on that extra load, new volunteers and facilities. These are all good problems that we can definitely work around.
"If we fixate on football needing to be a certain way, it's not flexible and inclusive for everyone. It's all about making sure that those opportunities are out there for girls and women of all ages across Norfolk, so they know they have a place in the game."