11-year-old girl wins landmark right to play football with the big boys

Now Minnie Crutwell has secured a famous victory - against the might of the Football Association.

The 11-year-old has forced the FA to reconsider its age-limit for mixed-sex teams, after recruiting Government ministers to her cause.

Minnie will now be allowed to stay with her team beyond her next birthday, instead of being forced to join a girls-only side. There will be a one-year pilot to see how older mixed sides work before the FA decides on a long-term policy.

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An FA spokesman said: "Action we are considering includes moving the age to under 14s or removing the rule altogether."

Welcoming her victory, Minnie said: "It doesn't matter if you are a boy or a girl, it's your ability to play that matters.

"I was upset and angry that the FA didn't think that girls are as good as boys. I am the only girl on my team but the boys treat me the same as everybody else."

Minnie's supporters say the age limit was sexist and discouraged girls from continuing to play sport at a time of increasing childhood obesity.

Her father Greg, who coaches her South London side Balham Blazers, said it would be ridiculous to have to wave goodbye to one of his best players just because she had turned 12.

"Minnie is the toughest tackler," he added. "I am glad the FA has decided to rethink." Minnie was only ten when she wrote to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell to protest about the rule. Miss Jowell raised the issue with the football governing body, and Minnie herself met FA chief executive Brian Barwick to voice her complaints.

Minnie also contributed to a report by a committee of MPs which last year recommended the limit should be replaced with an assessment by individual coaches of girls' ability to play in mixed sides.

Even prime minister-to-be Gordon Brown said the rules were unfair.

As a result, the FA has decided to allow Minnie to carry on playing with her team next year. The governing body remains concerned, however, about the threat of being sued over injuries as well as the need to provide separate changing facilities.

Encouraged by films such as Bend It Like Beckham, football has overtaken netball as the most popular participation sport among girls. There are 147,000 registered female players.

The Women's Sports Foundation, which campaigns for greater equality for girls and women, said yesterday it was opposed to any age-based cut-off.

"We think a more sophisticated rule based on height, weight and ability would be better," said a spokesman.