A GIRLS football team who were just weeks away from folding this summer have returned to action against all odds.

Mill Hill Under-14s Pink took on Langho Girls on Sunday (September 12) after "the power of social media" allowed them the opportunity to rebuild a depleted squad.

By sharing an appeal on several local noticeboards, players started to come forward and join the ranks. However, they were still short of a kit sponsor.

That was until Rick Moore, who is the father of one of the many talented players to join up with the new-look side, took it upon himself to dig deep and sponsor the kits for the new season.

He said: "For me, it's an opportunity to give something back to the community and support a great set of girls that just want to play some football.

"Especially after the lockdowns, anything that gets them out exercising, working together as a team and most importantly having fun has got to be a good thing.

"After the end of last season, they were struggling for players as some girls had moved up into the next age group. They weren't sure they could field a team, but a post on Facebook that ended up getting shared to the Mill Hill Community group, among others, had a great response.

"They managed to get enough new players to keep the team going and I think it's really important to give kids opportunities like this.

"It helps not just with their physical health, but with skills like teamwork and discipline.

"As a parent I am really grateful to the team coaches and everyone else who puts in massive amounts of effort to run the club, my daughter, Robyn, certainly loves playing for the team.

"The girls are fantastic and really put the effort in, all the other parents are also really supportive too."

Michelle Longworth coaches the team, along with Kris Ball, and she feels particularly proud of the community effort to keep the team going when it looked as though the end was nigh.

She said: "Mill Hill U14s Pink formed five-years ago and have been playing in the ELFA League on a Sunday.

"Due to there not being many girls teams in the region at that time, they were put into a boys league.

"The physicality of the boys meant the Pink team found results hard to come by, but the girls stuck together to form a fantastic bond and togetherness.

"In 2019 girls football boomed thanks to the England Ladies' fantastic efforts in the World Cup and the media that surrounded it.

"Due to this, a lot of other local clubs in the area started offering girls football. Whilst it was excellent to see other clubs offer girls football and a girls league set up, we understandably found enquiries from girls wanting a place in the team reduce.

"At the end of the 2020/21 season the Pink team needed to recruit as the following season they were going to 11-a-side which meant ideally a team of 16 was needed.

"Two girls had left to continue their progression at an academy team and four girls had unfortunately lost interest in the game to which the Covid-19 pandemic hadn't helped.

"The U14s then had 7-players with nobody new enquiring about places, it looked like the team would have to fold.

"The club, parents and coaches all pulled together. We advertised extensively over social media and through local Facebook pages.

"One parent in particular put a heartfelt Facebook post out and due to this we started to get enquiries. It was a massive success, during pre-season another nine girls had joined the team.

"The power of social media has helped out the team massively.

"These girls are now flourishing and enjoying their footballing journey. Sunday was the Pinks first game in the league, every girl played a part and they won 2-0.

"One of the new girls' parents sponsored the team meaning they now have a new playing kit too."