THE national team has defied expectations on the world stage and the Women's Super League is growing in popularity but girls can still find it hard to get a game of football.

A new initiative is hoping to change that by creating more opportunities for primary school pupils across Oxfordshire to take to the turf.

Girls on the Ball is run by Oxford High School PE teacher Liam Gilbert with support from Matt Payne from recruitment service Reed.

On Monday nine schools played in a mini tournament at Oxford Hawks Hockey Club in North Oxford, the second such event the scheme has hosted.

They are the precursors to a bigger tournament in March which will bring together more schools and set girls on a path to playing the game regularly.

Mr Gilbert said: "We started the initiative because we struggle to get fixtures for our teams and we want more girls teams.

"So far it has gone really well and we have had such positive feedback.

"At the friendly fixtures we have done so far we have not kept score but in March we will.

"The plan is getting more exposure, football is not seen as such a tomboy sport any more.

"Football is such an easy sport to get started, you can just get a ball and jumpers for goalposts."

Mr Gilbert has been coaching girls at Oxford High School since September and has also gained support for Girls on the Ball from Summertown Stars AFC.

Some of his students helped younger pupils warm up at the tournament on Monday and refereed the matches, giving them new skills as well.

Reed recruitment has helped by getting the word out to schools using its network of contacts from recruiting teachers.

Mr Payne said: "There are leagues for girls but not so much the engagement with primary schools.

"Reed can send an email out to 500 schools to tell them about the initiative.

"It is something we want to grow as a regular thing, not just a one-off.

"There is a fitness aspect to all of this and primary schools have got another reason to link up with each other.

"As a company we like putting something back into the local community and we have said to schools if they get involved that they will get a discount from us."

To get your school involved contact Mr Gilbert by emailing l.gilbert@oxf.gdst.net