Emily Lewis-Clarke says she is “devastated” at having to leave her team A Devon girl is calling on the Football Association to scrap a rule preventing girls from playing alongside boys after the age of 11.
Emily Lewis-Clarke, 11, from Newton Abbot, has been told she must quit her team in which she is the only girl.
She wants the age at which mixed sex teams are allowed raised to 13.
The FA, whose council and executive have backed the change, has declined to comment until shareholders make their decision later.
Emily plays as a defender in the Newton Abbot 66 Football Club.
She has been told she must leave, despite all the managers of under-11 teams in her league supporting her.
Emily, who is is presenting a 4,500 signature petition to the FA shareholders meeting, said: “I am devastated.
“She can stand up for herself and can play equally as well as the boys”
Michelle Lewis-Clarke Emily’s mother
“I’ve been playing football for five years and all the boys treat me the same.
“Sometimes the teams we play think ‘oh she’s a girl, she’ll be easy to beat’ but then they soon learn.”
The limit for mixed sex teams is 15 in Scotland, 12 in Wales and there is no limit in Northern Ireland.
On the continent girls often play in mixed sex teams until the age of 18.
Emily’s mother Michelle said: “She can stand up for herself and can play equally as well as the boys.
“She earns her place in the team on merit.”
An FA spokesperson said: “The proposal to extend mixed football to the under 13 age group is supported by the FA Board, FA Executive and FA Council.
“It is now for the FA shareholders at the FA AGM to vote either to accept or reject the proposal, with a vote in favour requiring a 75% majority.
“Therefore, we will not be making any further comment at this time.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.