World's fastest-growing sport? Women's soccer (From Barry And District News)

World's fastest-growing sport? Women's soccer

MORE girls than ever before in Wales are pulling on their football boots and taking to the pitch.

The FAW Trust has revealed new figures, showing that girls are taking up the sport in droves.

The announcement came on a day of celebration for the FAW Trust, as it officially opened its new offices at the Vale of Glamorgan Resort - the training base of the Welsh national football team.

The Trust - which was set up by the FAW in 1996, to secure funding for the future development of youth football - is raising standards and providing more opportunities for children to play football. New coaches are being accredited all the time in schools, enabling them to teach to higher standards, and more after-school clubs are being created.

With thirty million registered players worldwide, women's football is the world's fastest-growing sport and its popularity has proved no exception in Wales. Many targets set by the FAW Trust's women's and girls' programme have been surpassed by far and there has been an explosion in the number of girls taking up football.

Neil Ward, national development manager at the FAW Trust said: "Girls' football has gone from strength to strength. We've gone from having only 600 registered players in 2002 to having more than 1,500 registered players by the end of 2003. We're putting together a structure to develop talent and take forward the women's game. Three new girls' leagues have been set up in North Wales, as well as new indoor and outdoor leagues in Powys and Pembrokeshire. Five new senior leagues and six junior leagues are up and running, too."

Some great women footballers have launched international careers via the Trust's national development squads - like Katie Daley, the FAW Trust's Player of the Year in 2003, who was at the FAW Trust's new headquarters at The Hensol Resort in the Vale of Glamorgan today, to take an inspirational coaching session with girls from Romilly Junior School, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Katie, from Llanrumney in Cardiff, came through the ranks from U13 through to U19 national level and now plays regularly in the senior national squad. She has been coaching since last Christmas, and has been working for Cardiff City Soccer School while gaining coaching qualifications.

Katie is just one the of many women who have began coaching in the last few years - there are now 1,940 registered female coaches in Wales, which has already shattered the Trust's target for 2007. The Trust hopes that having more female role models in the game will in turn encourage even more girls to take up football.

Alun Pugh AM, minister for culture, Welsh language and sport, who was present to unveil the Trust's new offices said: "As the Welsh National football squad forge ahead with their World Cup qualifying campaign I am honoured to officially open the FAW Trust's new headquarters. The Trust provides a high standard of coaching and training for young people and I hope to see many more Katie Daleys and Ryan Giggs playing for Wales in the near future.

"It is encouraging to see the number of boys and girls getting involved and playing football in Wales. The Trust will promote participation in sport to improve levels of fitness and health in Wales - one of the Welsh Assembly Government's key priorities."