COLCHESTER Town Ladies Football Club have been praised by Arsenal and England striker Danielle Carter after they were boosted by an FA grant.

The club have been awarded up to £3,000, providing a lift to grassroots female football in Colchester and the village of Boxted.

It will also pave the way for the club to create new under-nine and under 10/11 teams.

These will be led by two new coaches who will also be able to attend Level One coaching courses following the grant award, which has come from FA-funded programme Grow the Game and delivered by the Football Foundation, the nation’s largest sports charity.

Carter said: “I would like to congratulate Colchester Town Ladies on working with the Football Foundation and Essex FA to secure a Grow the Game grant.

"Playing in an all-female team from a young age was key to my development, so I am delighted that there will be more opportunities for women and girls in the local area and wish Colchester Town good luck during their debut season!”

Grow the Game is a programme that awards grants to grassroots football clubs wishing to create new teams, especially amongst under-represented groups.

This year, £1,500 was made available for clubs looking to create new female and disability football teams to help towards the costs of FA coaching courses, FA league affiliation costs, referees’ fees, first aid kits, football kit and equipment.

Colchester Town Ladies chairman and Essex FA Women’s Development Representative Kim Farmer said: "Colchester Town Ladies FC has been an all-female club for 27 years.

"In that time, we've won many awards and brought hundreds of girls into contact with the wonderful game of football.

"Now with Football Foundation grants, we can extend our teams right down to early primary school ages."

Contact Kim on 07914 983179 or email Brian Waller on stattoatclfc16@aol.co.uk for more information.