AROUND 120 under-9s took part in a Girls’ 4v4 Festival at Ipswich Town on Thursday as part of Love Football, Live Football Week sponsored by MH Goals Ltd.

For many of the girls it was their first experience of participating in such a festival, which was hosted by Ipswich Town, who are partnering with Suffolk FA during the week-long celebration of grassroots football in the county.

A total of 20 schools, mainly from the Ipswich area, took part in the festival which was attended by Ipswich Town Under-21 Academy striker Charlotte Kellett, who is pictured below.

Charlotte, who went to primary school in Colchester, said: “It is brilliant these days that there are so many more tournaments for girls.

“When I was at primary school there was nothing like this, all the tournaments were orientated towards the boys.”

Suffolk FA Girls’ & Women’s Football Development Officer Rebecca Bolton said: “It has been a fantastic day for girls’ football in the Ipswich area.

“It is a great for the girls to experience playing on the training pitch at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road ground.”