A British trans women has been told by the Football Association she can only play on a men’s team.

Despite her teammates and players from opposing teams having no problem with her, Aeris Houlihan faces a gruelling two year wait before she can compete.

The 32-year-old’s passport and driving license confirms her gender, and has provided medical proof her hormone levels are exactly the same as any other woman.

FA bosses require her transition be ‘complete’ for at least two years before she can play competitively. Houlihan will have her final surgery in March.

‘It’s really disappointing and doesn’t make any sense, I just want to play football,’ Houlihan said, according to the Daily Mail.

‘It’s not like I want to play for Barcelona, I just want to play for my local club.’

Back in June, Houlihan applied to the FA to play for Sunday League Football Team, Middleton Park Ladies FC in Leeds, and was asked to provide a doctor’s letter verifying her female hormone levels.

For five months she said she was repeatedly ignored after providing medical evidence.

In October, she was finally told she could not play for her local team and would be unable to appeal this decision.

Houlihan said: ‘My hormone doctor was disgusted with the decision. I have lost all the testosterone advantage males have and I’m far too weak to play for the men’s team.

‘The FA didn’t even bother to look at my hormone levels or my blood test results, which are the same as any other woman’s. They are blind and need to look at the evidence in front of them.’

Middleton Park Ladies FC have given Houlihan their full support.

‘We support the fact she would like to play in a Ladies team as she is now legally a women, she has a British passport and she should be allowed to compete as a woman, just as she is allowed to live as a woman in her everyday life,’ the club said.

‘So as a club we fully support all our players who play for Middleton Park FC and will stand by them.’

A FA spokesman said: ‘The FA’s policy on trans inclusion in football was set following consultations with experts on the subject, as well as guidance from DCMS and the International Olympic Committee.

‘Individuals undergoing gender reassignment after puberty are required to have had the relevant surgical changes completed at least two years previously, as well as hormonal therapy for a sufficient length of time to minimise gender-related advantages in football matches.

‘If an individual does not meet the requirements of the policy, they are not able to play football in their legally acquired gender.’

On the FA’s website, it says: ‘An individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity should never be a barrier to participating in, and enjoying, our national sport.’