Girls just want to play football

28th February 2003, 12:00am
MORE girls than ever are going to school to try to Bend it like Beckham, according to a survey of young people’s sporting activity. The number of girls playing football has doubled since 1999 to one in eight - possibly in the hope of emulating the star of last year’s hit movie. But fewer children are taking part in cricket, the Mori poll carried out for Sport England reveals, increasing concerns over grassroots involvement in the traditional summer sport.