An outspoken nine-year-old is campaigning for more inclusive labelling after discovering that football boots in a Sports Direct shop in Bolton were only labelled for boys.
Summer Hoofe, from Horwich – who is a pupil at Claypool Primary School - was eager to go shopping with her mum Charlene for new football boots at the Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park store.
But when she got there, she asked her mum why all the boots said they were for boys.
Charlene added: “Summer, being the child, she is, asked one of the shop workers ‘can you tell me why all the boots say they are for boys?’
“She’s nine, and she shouldn’t have to think about things like that.
“We even checked online, and they say they are for boys, but not girls.
“I know a lot of men and boys wear football boots, but so do girls, and in this day and age these things shouldn’t be happening.”
That is when Summer launched her own campaign to change the labelling to unisex, through TikTok.
It was Summer’s sister Fearne who helped her get her message across in a video on Charlene’s account.
In the video, Summer asks "Why do these all say they are for boys?".
She then says that it is "time for change" and that the boots should be gender neutral.
@charleneh6 @Sports Direct It’s time for change. Girls play football too ! #nothappy9yrold #fyp #lfc #womensfootball #timeforchange #unisex #genderneutral #supersummer ♬ original sound - ✨𝙴𝚍𝚒𝚝✨
On why this is so important to her, Summer said: “Because boys are no different to girls, girls can play football too.
“I felt very annoyed because the boots all said boys on them.
“There were no football boots that said they were for girls in the whole of the shop.”
Despite being so young, Charlene says that nothing will stop Summer when she wants to do something.
Charlene said: “It has opened my eyes as a woman and as a parent and a mother of a girl.
“I don’t think she realises how much of an impact she’s making.
“I am super proud of her, as is her dad Mark and all her siblings.”
Summer is an avid Liverpool fan, but also supports Manchester United Women and Blackburn Rovers Women.
She currently plays for Wigan Junior Latics Blues boys team, Tiki Taka girls, and Bolton Futsal Club.
Summer is hopeful that this can continue to change the narrative in sports.
Sports Direct has been approached for a comment.
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