LONDON: Baroness Sue Campbell has been drafted in by the Football Association as new head of women’s football to bring the same sort of focus she brought to Britain’s Olympic success in 2012.

Campbell, a former England netball player and coach and who helped develop the Youth Sport Trust, will concentrate on encouraging an increase in grassroots participation in girls’ and women’s football.

She will working in fertile ground after the high-profile progress of the England team to third place at the recent Women’s World Cup.

Kelly Simmons, the FA’s director of participation and development, said: “Sue is widely regarded as one of the most influential people in British sport. This appointment is a massive statement about the FA’s ambitions for the women’s game and where the game is at.”

Baroness Campbell said she was “really excited” about the opportunity.

She added: “Great strides have already been made both in terms of grassroots participation and at the elite level. The growth of the FA Women’s Super League and success of the England Lionesses are testimony to that.”

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