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Manchester City has announced the return of #SameGoals for the second year running - and skipper Steph Houghton is right behind the initiative.

#SameGoals aims to inspire the next generation of female footballers by delivering footballs to every girl who sends in a video showing them scoring – or saving – a goal, this way each girl can keep playing and growing her passion for the game.

Commenting on the return of #SameGoals, Steph said: “Football is such an incredible sport to take part in. It’s fun, a great way to make friends and helps you to keep fit and healthy. We hope Same Goals encourages even more girls to give football a go and see how amazing it is.

“The entries submitted last year were unbelievable and I hope all those girls have kept practising and have some new tricks and skills to show us this year!”

To enter, videos should be uploaded to Twitter or Instagram using #SameGoals.

New for 2019, Manchester City will host a series of #SameGoals Football Festivals across a variety of global locations, including Manchester, the United States, Abu Dhabi and China, to provide girls with even more opportunities to play the game.

As part of the initiative, City will also provide their Cityzens Giving Young Leaders in Kolkata and Kilifi with support to organise football festivals aimed at promoting girls’ participation in their local communities.

The UK’s #SameGoals festival takes place on 9 March at the City Football Academy, where all of Manchester City’s teams train. Children and their families will be able to enjoy a range of football activities, including skill challenges, coaching clinics delivered by City Football Schools coaches and a series of mini tournaments. Entry is free of charge and details of how to sign up and redeem tickets will be shared via the Club’s website in the coming weeks.

Gavin Makel, Head of Women’s Football, added: “Everyone at Manchester City was delighted to see how many girls participated in last year’s Same Goals initiative and this year we want to reach even more young people.

“We are committed to inspiring the next generation of female footballers, providing them with opportunities to play the game and showing them there is a pathway to the elite level."

On Sunday, 10 February, City will host a unique double header as both the women’s and men’s teams face off against Chelsea. This is the first time both teams will play the same opposition at home on the same day and there will be several #SameGoals activations taking place across the Etihad Campus to mark the occasion. 

To enter #SameGoals, girls who are aspiring to be footballers, or those giving it a try for the first time, are encouraged to post a video on Twitter or Instagram that shows them scoring – or saving – a goal.* The goal can be scored, or saved, anywhere using any kind of ball; the more creative, the better. For every video posted using #SameGoals and tagging @ManCity, the Club will send out a football so she can keep playing.  

Participants can also keep practising by finding a club or programme near them by following any of the following links or visiting their local football association:

*As this initiative runs on social media, girls under the age of 13 will need to request the permission of their legal guardian and submit their goals using their parent or legal guardian’s social media account.

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