Girls' football team beat boys to win league title

Goalkeeper Olivia, Grace and Maisie train at Bedford Athletic Stadium

A football team became the first all-girl squad to finish top of the table in a Bedfordshire youth league.

Phoenix Girls Under-13's won the Chiltern Youth Football League, which mainly consisted of male teams.

Ciaran Alexander, one of the club's three coaches, said he thought it was a "good idea to put a girls team in a boys league to increase the development of the girls".

He said the team, which has identical triplets in the team, were "not beating boys at their own game, it's not the boys' game anymore, it's a multi-sex game, it's everyone's game".

Identical triplets Lily, the team's top goal scorer, Chloe and Ella, the team's captain

Head coach Mr Alexander said the 18-strong team started training together in June 2023, and seven players were due to go to academy trials "in the next few weeks".

The father of two sons said: "I've had experience of working with girls in boys football, but I thought it would be good to put a girls' team in a boys' league to increase the development of the girls.

"It's been amazing, the girls have progressed so well.

"It shows the girls can compete against the boys."

The clubs coaches could not be prouder of the team

Mr Alexander, who is supported by coaches Michael Taylor and Carl Perri, said the team could play against boys until they reached the ages of 15 or 16.

"This is a really important window of opportunity for them to develop their game," he added.

His message to girls was do not "be worried about playing against boys".

He continued: "Play with freedom, if you enjoy yourselves, you play better football.

"Do not feel restricted, just believe in what you can do."

Jo, whose daughter is part of the team, said they had "battled hard to win every game, despite injuries and broken bones"

Jo, whose daughter Maisie, 13, is part of the team, said the whole season had "been amazing".

"They started off really well, they had a bit of a fall, we all thought it was a distant dream, but then they won the last nine games, to get to where they are," she said.

"They didn't believe they could do it, but they should never be underestimated."

Ella and Maisie kissed the Chiltern Youth Football League Cup

Mr Alexander said: "I now want more girls to get involved and build on our success even further."

Out of a squad of 18, 16 of the players all scored goals, with Lily scoring 32, Mr Alexander said