My name is Mabel, I’m currently in Year 8 at BACA. I've been playing football for about 3-4 years. When I first started playing, nobody on the team wanted to go in goal - so I stepped up. At first I was teased by the boys for being a 10 year old playing on an adult sized pitch. However I showed everyone my raw talent and I have now improved massively and come so far. When I saved a penalty during a match all the boys started swarming around me in excitement. My mind was made up, I was going to be a professional goalie!

Fast forward to today, I play for my school team in partnership with the RMF Academy. I love that I can practice my football skills as part of the school’s Sports Academy - the training is all free, allows me to practice twice a week during school time, and the coaches are really nice and supportive which is so important. You can’t enjoy football if you don’t have nice coaches leading you. I’m excited to represent the school and win some matches going forward!

I was also scouted from some football trials to play for Brighton and Hove Schools district and was told I had potential by an ex-Everton goalkeeper coach who now trains with me once a week. I have played in a lot of matches for BHS and recently travelled up to Swansea to play in the National Cup. We came away champions with a 4-1 win and will go through to the finals!

There aren’t many goal-keepers in the world of football, let alone a female goalie, so I have learned to push through any struggles or fouls that may happen during a match for the sake of the team. I want to show everyone that I can become the best goalie and go professional and show society that women can do amazing things in the world of football!