The Bend It Like Beckham film inspired girls to play football

Specifically for Asian girls between the ages of 13 and 17, the team is part of a healthy living initiative by crime reduction charity NACRO.

Co-ordinator Kareena Greenaway said the girls find it difficult to play sports because of cultural sensitivities.

"A lot of them were inspired by the film Bend It Like Beckham, in which it wasn't such a bad thing to get involved in football," she said.

"The film captured a lot of understanding from these girls, in terms of resistance from families and what their parents wanted them to do," she added.

"The girls are very respectful of their parents - they've got good parents who are very caring. But there are religious issues that we need to be conscious of."