More and more girls are being given the opportunity to play the great game that is football and that is certainly the case in Brockworth.

The girls’ section at Brockworth Albion Football Club has gone from nought to 50 in fewer than 18 months and those numbers are almost certain to rise in the months and years to come.

Brockworth Albion Girls – or BAGS as they are known! – are affiliated to Brockworth Albion, whose flagship men’s team play in Division One of the Northern Senior League.

The girls’ section is the brainchild of Bernard O’Connor and came about because his two daughters – Isabella and Florence – were either playing or showing an interest in playing.

And such has been the appeal that the girls’ section at Brockworth now has teams at under-13, under-11 and under-10 age groups, with Isabella playing for the oldest age group and Florence for the youngest.

Their dad is one of half-a-dozen FA qualified coaches in the girls’ section – Jackie Howard is head coach – and between them they are obviously doing a lot right.

“The under-13s have just completed their first league season in the Gloucestershire Girls’ League, finishing a very creditable third,” said O’Connor.

“Pre-season the ambition was to win a game, try to avoid finishing bottom and at best finish third.”

And the under-10s and under-11s are thriving too.

“Both sides have been competing very well, reaching finals of their age group cup competitions this season,” continued O’Connor. “The under-10s have also got four players representing Gloucester Schools Girls football sides.”

While O’Connor knows his football – he’s a big Spurs fan and has played at senior level and coached at junior level at Brockworth Albion – he admits that his background is more rugby than football.

“I was a tighthead prop for Brockworth,” said the 52-year-old. “I played for 30-odd years and I’m still playing veterans. I am also a qualified rugby coach, having coached a lot of children’s rugby in schools and at Brockworth.”

He also played a few games for Cheltenham Civil Service but although he really likes his rugby, there’s not much doubt what his number one sport is now and he certainly has big plans for BAGS.

“The vision is to establish a senior women’s football team in the next five years at Brockworth Albion,” O’Connor said. “We will also start additional age group teams to complement the existing ones we have established.

“There are plenty of girls who want to play football, the challenge is getting coaches involved and the support of football clubs.

“Fortunately, we have that at Brockworth Albion, we have attracted girls from all over Gloucester to play for us.

“I would hope that more girls’ teams are started in the local area. There are plenty of girls who want to play as we have found out very quickly, they just need the opportunities given to them.”