'Mortified' short-haired schoolgirls forced to give 'evidence' of their gender during football match

The talented youngsters have also faced claims of cheating during weekend league games, with opposition parents complaining from the sidelines and officials pressuring referees - leaving the girls in tears.

Parents report that whilst their children were inspired by the Lionesses and viewed football as a 'safe space', some have now begun skipping matches due to anxiety.

The harassment has particularly affected two young players with short hair, who have faced repeated questioning about their gender during tournaments and regular matches.

Wendy Topham, 48, said that her daughter Flo, 11, was first targeted at a tournament when she was just nine years old.

"We heard a mum on the other side of the pitch shouting to the ref: 'Ref, ref, that's not fair. They've got a boy on their team,'" she told MailOnline.

Both Flo and her teammate Camille Little have been deeply affected by the accusations.

"She gets worried before any match really now, and especially tournaments, when there's a lot of people, because she doesn't want to stand out," Topham said.

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In one particularly upsetting incident, a match had to be halted due to a coach questioning the girls' gender, leaving several team members too distressed to keep playing.

In response to these incidents, the club has taken a bold stance by creating shirts emblazoned with the message "Girls can have short hair - get over it" - with the club's senior women's team printing supportive hoodies featuring the same words.

The initiative began when Ms Topham and Camille's mother Aimee paid £224 to have the shirts printed for their daughters' team.

Initially, Flo and Camille were hesitant to wear the shirts, fearing they would draw more attention to themselves - but their concerns were alleviated when their entire team chose to wear the shirts in solidarity.

"It's that togetherness of the team - we can have whatever hair we want, we can do what we want. It's a real positive impact," Topham explained.

Another mother noted: "Older women with short hair that play football said: 'Oh, this is brilliant. I've always struggled with this my whole life.'"

Teams from across the country have now contacted York Railway Institute AFC requesting printing details to create their own versions of the shirts.

And the club's coach, Kelly, has been praised for her unwavering support of the players.

"We've got such an amazing team and the coach is absolutely amazing. She's always got the girls' back," said Topham. "I think it's given the girls with short hair a boost to know they're not alone."

The Football Association has expressed clear support for the initiatives.

An FA spokesman said: "Our position is really clear as per The FA's 2024-28 women's and girls' strategy titled 'Reaching Higher' we want all girls from all backgrounds and communities in England to feel welcome within the football family and have the opportunity to play, coach, officiate or lead whatever their motivation."