Girls play for the love of the game

May 23 2010 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

IF the Doncaster Belles famously stole an author’s heart back in the day, teams like the Jarrow Belles can help restore football’s soul.

Yes, the Jarrow Belles. A band of lasses with the fortitude for which their town is famed.

You almost certainly won’t have heard of them, because they are no more than nine years old and only play in the Chase Holmes South Tyneside Junior League.

Only, indeed.

Last September, the Belles pitched up at Monkton Stadium and joined battle with boys’ teams – my lad’s included – in the Under-9 league.

Every Saturday since (winter freeze permitting), they have continued to turn up – a task beyond certain other teams at certain times. Every Saturday, they have been heavily beaten. Yet every Saturday, they have won a few more supporters.

If a boys’ team shipped 151 goals in 16 games, they would be pitied. Not least by themselves.

But for the Belles, there has been nothing but admiration.

With an attitude which stayed sunny through the mid-winter gloom, they have reminded all onlookers of what it means to play for the love of the game.

First to arrive every week, the most eager to warm up and the least likely to moan about the cold, wet or not having the very latest pair of boots

Ever present, ever willing, ever correct.

Yes, in purely footballing terms, they were given an education every week, but in their attitude and application, they taught opponents prone to sulks and squabbles a priceless lesson.

What’s more, they improved; improved to the point that they scored their first goal three weeks ago in a famous (famously narrow, that is) 4-1 defeat.

You could have heard the cheer in South Shields.