MP for South Suffolk James Cartlidge has backed a campaign which aims to promote better training and opportunities for female coaches in football.

Mr Cartlidge showed his support for the Betfair Fairer Game campaign and met Sudbury resident Kayleigh Steed, who has been successfully chosen as one of 50 coaches being funded to complete their UEFA B licence.

Kayleigh currently works at Haverhill Community Sports Association and also coaches across various age groups from under 13 to under 18 at Haverhill Rovers FC.

Mr Cartlidge said: “It was a pleasure to meet Kayleigh who will soon undergo training for her UEFA B licence. I am supportive of this important initiative to level the playing field for women in football and in sport more generally.”

Spokeswoman for Betfair Naomi Totten said: “I am delighted that James Cartlidge has announced their support for the Betfair Fairer Game campaign, which seeks to challenge the gender disparity for women in football.

“We hope that by working together we will see increasing numbers of women coaching both women’s and men’s football.”