As an 8-year old Mia Njirich enjoyed wearing pink hairbands and pink socks to take on the boys in football. In 2010 Pink Demons became the first all-girls team in Football Wests’ Junior League, quickly establishing a reputation for beating the boys.

Five years later may of her Pink Demons teammates have followed their dreams elsewhere but football remains Njirich’s passion. The 12-year old plays in a boys team at Inglewood United and has been selected to represent the State in two national tournaments this year.

Njirich says she holds her own amongst the boys. “I don’t feel like I’m getting pushed around,” she told the ‘West Australian’. “Now it’s not about what gender you are, it’s how you play in the team. We’re all teammates together.”

Njirich said she was inspired by the Matilda’s, who bowed out of the Women’s World Cup to trophy holders Japan this morning. The interest in the national team matches a big increase in the number of West Australian females signing up to play football in recent years.

Almost 6,600 women and girls are registered with Football West, a 76% rise on registrations of a decade ago. The peak body runs an elite development pathway for girls and has more than 80 all-girl teams in eight divisions across five age groups up to age 17.

Despite more girls playing the game now, Njirich says as she rises up through the ranks there are fewer girls alongside her. “I just think as the girls are getting older, they are thinking it’s more a boys sport,” said Njirich, who enjoys the challenge of playing in a mixed team.

Njirich is coached by her father Rodney, who doubles as Inglewood’s Junior Coordinator. He said clubs tended to direct girls to girls leagues as they got older. “But I think if they are good enough (for boys team), let them go,” he said.

Interview by Angela Pownall originally appeared in the ‘West Australia’, 27 June 2015.