A TALENTED footballer from King’s Oak Academy in Kingswood was invited to attend a Future Lionesses Goalkeeper Training Day.
Year 8 student Ruby Tucker got the chance to work at the national training centre, St Georges Park, as the women’s senior team hosted the country’s next generation of female goalkeepers.
She met her idol, World Cup star Mary Earps, and other Lionesses goalies Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating and Ellie Roebuck.
As well as watching the squad train, the girls were given a taste of what it’s like to be a Lioness as they took part in their own training sessions on the same pitches used by the England teams.
Ruby said: “I really enjoyed the event as I got to watch the Lionesses train at St Georges. It was an amazing experience to watch Mary Earps and Ellie and the other keepers train. It was great to train with their coaches too and I learned so much. I also got to see St Georges facilities and had a Q&A session with the Lionesses. We all also got the new England kit too. It was a great day!”
Katherine Ogden, principal of King’s Oak Academy, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Ruby as she develops her exceptional football skills at a national level. Ruby is a brilliant student and member of the King’s Oak Academy community, and we are really looking forward to seeing how Ruby continues to progress and display her sporting talents over the coming years.”