An annual celebration honouring International Women's Day saw players from North East clubs uniting to inspire the next generation of female footballers at a Newcastle United Foundation's Premier League Kicks girls' session.
Around 40 participants from across the region enjoyed training together before putting their own questions to Newcastle United Women's Jas McQuade and Grace Boyes, alongside Sunderland Women's Megan Beer and Emily Scarr with Middlesbrough Women's Abby Towers and Daisy Burt, who joined the Teesside team on loan from the Magpies last month.
Players from all three clubs shared their journey to joining the Magpies, Black Cats and Boro, recalling how their pathway to playing football often started by joining boy's teams at school or at grassroots level, facing setbacks and challenges along the way.
United defender Boyes said: "I'll never forget the opportunities I had to play football when I was growing up and those opportunities allowed me to chase my dreams.
"It's amazing to see girls now having that chance to pursue a future in sport and that they can play at every ability with support and pathways available for everyone. It makes me really proud."
Boyes, McQuade, Beer, Scarr, Towers and Burt also offered advice for young participants, as well as insight into training, game preparation, and the players they admire the most at the session hosted in the Foundation's community facility, NUCASTLE, powered by Newcastle Building Society.
After getting to know her heroes, one Foundation participant, said: "I loved meeting the players, not just from Newcastle, but from Sunderland and Middlesbrough's clubs too because it showed me that there are different chances and different clubs you can follow your dream in.
"It was good to see loads of girls having fun and playing football together."
Over the last six months, more than 340 girls have engaged in the Foundation's Premier League Kicks sessions, with the charity also providing opportunities for women and girls to enjoy football and professional coaching through after school clubs, football festivals, holiday courses, disability coaching sessions, Emerging Talent Centres and more.
The parent of one participant at the celebratory International Women's Day session described the event as "powerful".
She said: "My daughter has low confidence and self-belief and being able to meet and hear from the women's players about their journeys and setbacks has pushed her determination to make it to the next level. She hasn't stopped smiling."
Premier League Kicks, funded by the Premier League through the Premier League Charitable Fund, uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential, in some of the most high-need areas in England and Wales.
More than 4,000 young people enjoy free, supervised Premier League Kicks sessions delivered by Newcastle United Foundation every year, with sessions available across the North East, from Berwick to Gateshead. Register here.
