Steph Houghton eager to help women's football continue to grow

England captain Steph Houghton is determined to beckon through the next generation of Lionesses and make sure women's football builds on its biggest ever boom year.

Twelve months ago, Houghton was preparing to lead England into the unknown as the World Cup in Canada approached.

Hopes were high that Mark Sampson's side would perform strongly, but their eventual third-placed finish exceeded all but the most optimistic expectations.

It made household names of the likes of Houghton, Fara Williams and Lucy Bronze, and sparked a surge in attendances at Women's Super League games.

The knock-on effect has seen a host of teams go fully professional, leading names are already earning money on a par with some Football League players, and England's stated ambition for Euro 2017 is to return from Holland with the trophy in their luggage.

The Football Association is pushing for more opportunities for school-age girls to play the game, by allocating fresh funding to 34 teams from the top three tiers of the women's leagues.

Houghton said: " I think the way women's football has grown over the last few years is huge. For us, it's everything when you go into schools and coaching classes and see how they're maybe a bit starstruck and really excited by the fact you're there. It's very encouraging that we can be like that.

"All we can do is be as positive as we can be around making them feel comfortable about wanting to play football and enjoy the sport."

The FA's push of its new participation programme, backed by energy company SSE, will see a fresh influx of youngsters from five to 14 years old playing girls-only football.

Houghton, who turns 28 on Saturday, remembers her first football training.

" Apart from my dad it was when I was at Sunderland soccer schools and having the opportunity to go on and play, and to be told how to do certain turns and passes - I always remember the first turn I learned was the Cruyff Turn, and for me it's something you always remember," she said.

"I'm for mixed football, but also girls-only football. When I play mixed football it gives you a little bit more competitiveness and aggression. You want to beat the boys and you want to get stuck in, but women's football is slightly different.

"It's maybe not as physical but it's a lot more technical and once you're a youngster you gain more confidence, for girls that don't really want to get stuck in or be aggressive. It allows you to have a little bit more time on the ball and be more confident."

:: SSE, in partnership with the FA are launching a new girls- only football programme. To find out your local club and start playing, visit: www.SSE.co.uk/girls-united. To watch England stars Lucy Bronze and Karen Bardsley take on 100 school girls, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIKvWBfhvx0&feature=youtu.be