PRESTWICH Marauders new girls team played their part in an all-girls football festival on Sunday.

The fledgling side had a run out in the under-9s competition at St Joseph's "soccer dome" in Horwich, competing against clubs from the Bolton, Bury and District Football League.

It was another stride into the unknown for coach Scott Grimshaw, who set up the team earlier this year.

They started with just three members but now have around 30 girls, including an u8s development squad and an u11s team, which plays in the South Manchester Girls League.

Scott is now on the lookout for new volunteers to help the club grow.

He said: "We started off in April this year with the hope of attracting a few girls interested in playing the great game and maybe being able to raise a small team to play a few matches.

"We initially attracted just three girls and it stayed that way for a couple of months.

"But after promoting the side on social media and asking friends who had daughters to come along and maybe entice a few friends to join them, we now have between 25 and 30 girls turning up regularly for training on a Wednesday night.

"We have split the age groups down to a development age (u8s) and we did have two teams of older girls, enough to have an u10s and an u11s team, but after losing some players and a manager at the start of the season I have had to combine the group into one team.

"I felt it was important that we found a league just for girls - not mixed. As far as I can gather we are the only grassroots club in the Prestwich/Whitefield area offering girls-only football, but in order for these girls to progress I need help.

"Any volunteers who want to help with coaching will be sent on courses to learn how to train girls in the correct way, once all the safeguarding and CRB checks have been completed."

To find out more, email Scott at prestwichmarauderscott@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/PrestwichMaraudersGirls/