FIVE North-East women have been selected to represent Great Britain’s American football team in their first 11-a-side match.

Charlotte Lewis, Beverley Marwood, Joanne Mann, Emma Riggall and Lindsey Robson make up the quintet gunning for glory in this month’s momentous game.

The Steelers, who train at Thornaby Academy, were founded by the British American Football Association (BAFA) to increase female participation in a traditionally male dominated sport.

It is currently the only women’s American football team in the North-East.

Lewis, 30, was selected for Great Britain after impressing in trials alongside Marwood, who is expected to captain the side in Stockholm.

The Steelers duo shined in Britain’s maiden five-a-side match against Sweden last October, winning 27-10.

They will renew acquaintances with the Scandinavians in this month’s historic fixture.

Charlotte spoke of her excitement after being confirmed in the squad.

“I am delighted to be selected for Team GB. It's a great honour to play for Britain and we are the start for many great things to come for Britain’s Women's American Football Team,” she said.

“The European Championship is the aim. That could be as early as 2015 ahead of the next World Championship in 2017.

“European level is where, given a few more years of experience, a British team can really challenge for honours.”

Andy Fuller, Director for Student Football at the BAFA, is in no doubt about the significance of the match, saying: “This game is the pinnacle for progression and for maintaining momentum. It is the platform to move from.

“When we started the game 11-a-side was not an option. We did not get the mass of girls to cater for 11 versus 11 football and we did not have equipment.

“Therefore, we invested in programmes and built teams. This gave us momentum.

“(The victory against Sweden last year) played a very important role in developing the women’s game. It helped to attract and retain people.”

Fuller is confident the women’s game will maintain its rapid growth. A number of teams were formed by the BAFA to enable Britain to fight on equal footing with their European counterparts.

“The next step is European champions. It is a very staged progression to see whether it is appropriate to enter the European Championships.

Charlotte, who plays in the defensive line position, is rated highly by the national team coaches and is expected to develop further with the aid of competitive international fixtures.

Fuller believes she can underpin Britain’s competitiveness in future tournaments while acting as an icon to aspiring players.

Marwood, who also captains the Teesside Steelers, agrees that the sport’s increasing popularity means Britain could soon compete for international honours.

“The sport has exploded around the country,” she said. As women's football has grown 300 per cent in 2014 the standard has also stepped up a level too.

“I honestly believe our British women and their coaches have the drive and ability to compete in the European Championships.

“Eventually, GB will be good enough to compete at The World Championships, but that will involve years of hard work and a constant stream of women entering the sport.”