Tomorrow has been dubbed Let Girls Play day, with Surbiton schools urged to join in the biggest school football event.

More than 61,000 girls across Britain are taking part in a session sponsored by the Football Association and Barclays, on Wednesday March 9, designed to unite schools in their ambition to provide equal access to football for girls.

Timed to follow International Women’s Day, the nationwide sessions will take place in PE lessons, before school, during lunchtime and after school.

Currently, only 63% of schools offer girls’ football in PE lessons, and only 40% offer girls regular after-school football. The event was heavily plugged during Chelsea’s weekend Conti Cup final against Man City.

The FA’s ambition is for 75% of schools to provide equal access to football for girls in PE lessons, and 90% of schools offering regular extracurricular football by 2024.

“It’s our hope that Let Girls Play will play a part in driving change, empowering and inspiring schools to unlock these unequal pathways,” said FA head of development Louise Gear.

The FA’s goal is to help girls become more physically active, improve wellbeing, increase physical literacy for five to eight-year-olds and help all girls develop the confidence and competence to play football at school and in a community setting.