91�ȱ�

"It's not just boys who can play football" - that's the message from a group of girls after their football club cut all of its female teams.

One hundred players have been left without a club after the bosses of Thornaby FC made the decision, following a vote.

The club said its future was in doubt after a "difficult year" and keeping the men and boys' teams, but not the female sides, was the only way to continue.

Lioness footballer Beth Mead said: "It's not good enough, these young girls deserve better."

The decision has affected all Thornaby FC's female teams including the under-7s, under-8s, under-10s, under-11s, under-15s and the women's side.

Isla, who played in the under-8s, said: "I'm just so shocked that it's happened because I've been playing for the team for about six months."

One of the young players, Isabelle, said: "I made loads of new friends in this team and it made me feel disappointed, angry and sad."

"I hope that we can keep on playing and keep on being friends together."

Lots of people have expressed their support for the girls, including Lioness Beth Mead who said she was "disgusted" by the decision.

On Monday the six board members who voted to scrap the teams stepped down, the club's chairman Gary Morris has stayed in position after he voted against the decision.

After stepping down, former chief executive of the club, Trevor Wing said the men's teams were prioritised, as they had been in existence for longer.

He added that the decision was due to financial pressures and that the girls' junior teams could have continued to use the club's name and badge, as they are self-paid for, separately from the rest of the club.