Girls' and Women's day at Wythenshawe Games

Last week Wythenshawe Games opened their gates for a Girls' and Women's day encouraging ladies to try sports such as rugby, roller derby, fencing, golf, and football. 

Now in its third year, the annual Wythenshawe Games sports festival takes place over seven days in Wythenshawe Park and the surrounding community.

This year Manchester United Foundation supported the Girls' and Women's day by providing free football sessions with the help of players from the Girls Centre of Excellence.

Levi Rathburn who plays for the Under 17s took part in a fun, knock about alongside her mum Michelle. When asked about Levi’s introduction to football Michelle said, “Around the age of five or six Levi started training with her brothers and seemed really good at it. Eventually she played in a boys’ team for a full year before joining the Centre of Excellence.”

Michelle also had words of advice for other mothers who would like their daughters to start playing sports, “Just let them get stuck in, it can’t do them any harm and it will do them the world of good -football helps keep kids occupied as there’s not a lot out there for them to do otherwise.”

Levi, who has been with Manchester United since the age of 9 said, “I see football as being more than a hobby, in 10 years I’d love to see myself playing professionally and hopefully in a United Ladies team. Growing up with brothers made it easier to get into football, but with hard work and the right attitude anything is possible.”

For more information about the Wythenshawe Games you can visit wythenshawegames.org.uk.