Shropshire Star

Lioness Jill Scott passes on top tips at Telford College

Budding Lionesses were given some top footballing tips when England international Jill Scott visited Shropshire.

Published

Manchester City midfielder Scott, who was part of the England team that finished third at the World Cup in 2015, visited Telford College as part of her football roadshow.

The 31-year-old, who has won 130 caps for her country, travels around the UK in a bid to promote women’s football.

Around 70 girls aged between six and 16 headed to the sports dome at the college to be put through their paces by the star.

“When I was a young girl I would turn up at soccer camps and be the only girl there – it was all boys,” Scott said.

“It was quite intimidating at first and you had to prove yourself as a footballer – more so than the boys did – before you got accepted.

“For me, it’s so important to get out there and give girls an opportunity.

“And the most pleasing thing is when parents come to me and say their young girl now seems to have a lot more confidence.

“We get a great response from the girls. It’s funny because they are usually quite shy at the beginning.

“But by the end they are tying my shoelaces together and my lunch is getting stolen!

“It doesn’t take them long to show their true colours.

“It’s just about them enjoying themselves and enjoying playing the game.”