“We thought it would be a good idea to also provide a home for girls' who have potential to be good sportswomen,” said Dr Cheung Kam-wing, the managing trustee of the organisation.
Occupying eight rai of land, organisers plan to open the doors of a brand-new building which will house the girls – aged from eight to 10 – and increase the number of total children from 32 to 64.
Opened in May 2006, the YFH is essentially an orphanage for homeless children that provides shelter, schooling and a focus on sport, particularly football.
Kids whose families are unable to provide for them are also accepted into the school, where they are raised until adulthood.
“They grow up in a family atmosphere and learn social skills and get a good education until they are in a position to look after themselves,” Dr Cheung said.
Eight years after first opening their doors, the home has 'graduated' their first few boys and helped get them a university education.
Some of the children have gone on to pen professional football contracts – like 18-year-old Wuttichai Sooksen and 19-year-old Suttiporn Yaifai – who are both now with local professional club Phuket FC.
Organisers had planned to recruit most of the girls during two sports clinics, one in Bangkok and another in Phuket. However, the political crisis that has recently rocked the city has forced them to cancel their clinic in the capital.
The Phuket sports clinic will still take place on April 5 to 7 at the YFH's facilities in Thalang.
“I understand that the girl's football scene is growing worldwide. Thailand has sent a representative team in the international tournaments,” Dr Cheung said, “this could be a good opportunity for female youth in Thailand.”
From their experience recruiting applicants for the boy's programme, Dr Cheung said he expects most of the girls to come from the areas surrounding Bangkok and further north.
The changes will bring an increase in staff, although YFH hopes to train the young girls and boys together until they each hit puberty, after which they will train separately.
“At that age [8 to 10] girls are not that physically different from boys. We are planning to have the girls in before the beginning of the school year in May,” Dr Cheung said.
For more information on the Youth Football Home or to apply, visit yfhphuket.com.