Football is the fastest growing women's sport in the country and the Fylde is playing its part in that rapid development.

During the 15 years since the women's game began to rise up the FA's agenda, the Lancashire FA has been working hard to promote the sport, encouraging girls to take up the game at a young age.

Girls and Women's development officer Mike Nadal told The  Blackpool Gazette: "We want to get the message out and that starts at grassroots level."

The county has five FA-affiliated leagues, with a centre of excellence at Blackburn which is closely linked to the town's Premier League club.

At open age level, the Fylde is covered by the West Lancashire League, which includes clubs as far south as Liverpool.

However, what gives Nadal most satisfaction is the growth of the girls' game under the FA banner, with teams now operationg from under-eights level.

He added: "This is a fantastic development over the past seven or eight years, giving girls the opportunity to progress in the game from an early age."

To help girls get involved in football without first joining a club, the Lancashire FA are also organising an inter-school competition.

Nadal added: "The challenge is to keep girls playing football once they have started. It used to be the case that a girls' team could lose its first match and never play again.There is already a National Schools Cup but we want to make the game available to as many schoolgirls as possible at a local level."

With this in mind, the Lancashire FA is looking not only to provide competitions for girls but also to help coach them. The FA Skills programme is not entirely about developing better footballers – its coaches also aim to improve balance and co-ordination duing their school visits.

Lancashire FA operates nine centres, including one in Blackpool, from where coaches visit local schools to try and ensure that all boys and girls have the maximum opportunity to play the game.

The LFA also arranges for top players, such as Fara Williams of Everton Ladies and England, to visit schools and share their expertise.

Nadal added: "We are so lucky to have someone like Fara coaching on the programme. It helps the children but also the teachers as she can pass on some excellent coaching tips."

The LFA believe their efforts have reaped rewards on the Fylde. Not only are their more opportunities for girls to play football in schools, but there are also clubs in operation in Blackpool, Bispham, Cleveleys, Fleetwood, Lytham St Annes, Poulton and Thornton.

Blackpool FC Girls operate teams at virtually every junior level from under-10 to under-16 and all bar one finished in the top three of their Lancashire FA League last season. The Lancashire FA League also includes teams representing Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and Manchester United.

To help interested girls to join a local club, the FA keeps a comprehensive and up-to-date list in the Get Into Football section of its website at www.lancashirefa.com.