A MOTHER has successfully pushed the Football Association to reverse a proposed rule restricting elite girl footballers from playing for their own schools.

Lisa Bloor, 37, from Rising Bridge rallied support from fellow parents at Haslingden High School to stop the FA from implementing the rule.

The FA was planning to stop girls with top UK clubs and academies from playing in county football and therefore the English schools’ football competitions. But no similar ban was proposed for boys.

Mrs Bloor's daughter Abby Clarke, 14, plays for Everton and her friends at Haslingden High, Beth Macdonald and Lucy Valentine, play for Blackburn and Bolton, respectively.

Mrs Bloor said: “When I heard the FA was proposing to ban the elite girls from playing county/English schools football and thus representing their schools, I was a little shocked and concerned to say the least.

"Then another parent, Sean Slater, pointed out that the boys at the same clubs and academies were not banned.

“This immediately raised a red flag to me as I have a background in disability rights and with that comes an understanding of the Equality Act 2010.

“This was clearly sex discrimination and would have a big impact on a girl’s school life in sports making it very unequal for them compared to boys. Preventing any girl from doing what a boy does is outrageous.”

Mrs Bloor sent MP for Haslingden and Hyndburn, Graham Jones, an email, leading to him writing to the FA.

Mr Jones said: “Lisa and her fellow campaigners successfully lobbied the FA and they finally agreed that the ban could not go ahead.”

Haslingden High School Headteacher Mark Jackson said: “I firmly believe opportunities should be available to both boys and girls equally.

“I am delighted that Lisa has highlighted an obvious unfairness and has worked tirelessly to ‘right’ this obvious ‘wrong’."

“At Haslingden High School we value all the benefits that sport brings and our students are involved in a wide range of sports, not only at school level, but also in local, regional, national and even international arenas.”

A spokesman for the FA confirmed the proposal was dropped following public consultation.

He said the intention was to limit the workload of elite players and stressed the FA was committed to doubling the number of females playing football.