Arsenal legend Ian Wright has retweeted the Oxford Mail article about the lack of facilities for girls to play football in Witney.

The England and Gunners striker, who now works as a pundit for BBC Sport and ITV Sport, is a passionate supporter of women's football and said nothing will stop women’s football thriving in England after the Lionesses stormed into the Euro 2022 final.

“The women’s game is here and it is here to stay. What we are seeing with these ladies, and the way they are inspiring everybody, is nothing is going to stop it,” Mr Wright told BBC Breakfast.

Oxford Mail:

“When you consider there is only 63 per cent of girls who have the same access as boys to football, this is why I am hoping by 2024 what the FA and Barclays are doing is making sure that (access) can happen in every school for boys and girls and 100 per cent of girls can get the opportunity to play football.”

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Witney Vikings says for six years it has been developing female-only teams and since the Lionesses won the Euros, interest has been soaring.

Now the town council says the ground at The Leys, where the girls' teams are based, cannot be used until next year as it is 'compacted' and needs repair work.

Clubs fear that in their experience the ban may become permanent and if they can't find another ground these teams are going to fall apart.

Oxford Mail:  

But the bigger issue, they say, is the lack of pitches for football, or any sport, in the town.

Witney Town Council said the surface of The Leys is 'compacted' and dangerous and autumn is the only other suitable time to try to reinstate it through decompaction and reseeding.

It said it is working hard to make as many pitches available as possible "with the resources we have at our disposal".