JACCI Cooper is a woman with a mission. Or a goal to be more precise.

Cheshire's first football development officer wants to get the county's girls on an equal footing with the boys and is determined to get her way.

Girl power meets goal power.

The football-mad mum-of-two grew up on a diet of football, football and more football.

Dad Trevor was a player, manager and also scout for Stockport County and would often take his young daughter along on his travels, from the First Division to non-league.

She attended her first match at the tender age of 18 months and has been hooked on the game ever since.

Now she wants to challenge the prejudices and barriers that prevent many girls taking up football.

"It's not about competing with men," said Jacci. "Natural physiology dictates that we can not beat them in strength.

"But it is about changing people's perceptions and creating a situation where it's the norm for a female to go out on a Sunday and play football is she wants to.

"The most challenging task will be fighting with more than a century of male sporting chauvinism that has discouraged girls to play football.

"We have come a long way so far, but not far enough."

More than 1,500 women and girls regularly play the national game, but Jacci wants to see the British emulate the Americans, who are world leaders in the women's game.

She added: "One of the reasons for this is because they began playing the sport alongside men.

"Most boys are kicking the ball from the age of three in Britain. We've got to encourage girls to do the same.

"We'll be developing the game in primary and secondary schools where they are not allowed to play in mixed teams."

She was helping to break down some of the barriers on Friday at a special mini-soccer festival for both sexes at Moss Farm.

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