The football community has come out in support of a young girl who has been horrifically bullied for enjoying the sport.
Freya Taylor, seven, has received a torrent of online abuse since she took up the sport in 2020, states her mum Amy Greaves.
Amy says that even "random, grown men and women" have made comments about her daughter's favourite hobby while the pair are in public, Hull Live reports.
Taking to Twitter, Amy said: "I HATE bullies. My 7 year old daughter, getting called a lesbian and even a pig, for playing football and supporting @SheffieldUnited.
"My heart breaks for her but these bullies will not win!! #football #twitterblades."
Her account was flooded with supportive messages, including one from current Sheffield United manager, Paul Heckingbottom.
He said: "Sorry to hear about your daughter, you can tell her from me how important it is that she carries on playing football like my own daughter does and a big thank you for supporting the blades."
Sheffield United Women also tweeted Amy, saying: "We're so sorry to hear this.
"We'd love to invite both you and your daughter to our game on Sunday against Blackburn Rovers and we will arrange to get her a shirt signed by the squad.
"Bullies won't win."
And Huddersfield Town Women reached out to the Sheffield mum. "We agree, bullies will never win," the club said.
"We would love to invite you and your daughter to our game against the Blades at the Stafflex Arena in Huddersfield on the 20th of this month!
"Together, we can show her football is for everyone."
Amy said the cruel messages had not put Freya off playing football for long. "It did knock her back but now she is saying she still wants to play," she said.
"It has spurred her on to carry on."
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