FEMALE football fever took hold of the city as nearly 30 schools participated in a festival celebrating the sport.

The FA Girls’ Football Festival came to Oxford on Thursday in a bid to encourage the county trend of young girls getting involved in the game.

It follows a successful year in which Oxfordshire FA has seen more younger girls’ football teams formed as more youngsters take up the sport.

Coach for women’s football at Oxford Brookes, Mark Andrews, who held a goalkeeping workshop, said: “Days like this help raise awareness for girls’ football and increase the opportunities for girls to play.

“There has definitely been an increase in girls’ football. There are lots of teams in and around Oxfordshire such as in Launton, Headington and Barton.”

Young players aged between five and 16 got to test their moves with professionals such as Oxford United Women’s players Kat Nutman and Kayleigh Hines, professional football freestyler Charlotte Lade-Rogers and referee ambassador Paula Wyatt.

Football development manager for Oxfordshire FA, Sarah Wood, said: “It is so important to give girls a positive experience when trying football for the first time and this is a great opportunity for girls in Oxfordshire to get involved in lots of different activities.

“We have seen a big increase in the number of girls’ teams at the younger age groups in the past 12 months and we want to keep that interest and momentum going. The FA Girls’ Football Festival will hopefully be the first of many new opportunities available for girls in Oxfordshire.”

The festival also welcomed Olly and Olivia the Oxen from Oxford United Football Club in a mascot dance off against The Football Association Women’s Super League mascot Berry the Bear.

The FA says a lot of people think football is not for girls but it hopes the festival will show more girls, parents and teachers that “girls can play, it is not just a sport for boys”.

Director of participation and development Kelly Simmons said: “Growing female participation in football is one of our biggest aims and the festivals give girls the opportunity to try out football in a fun and engaging environment. It’s important that we take the festivals around the country.”