Our Heroes: Shanttel hopes to bend it like Beckham

FEMALE footballer Shanttel Green is hoping to make the England women's team after winning a scholarship at an American college.

The 16-year-old, pictured below, is jetting off to the Jackson Community College in Detroit, Michigan, tomorrow where she will undertake a two-year training programme.

Shanttel, who is a member of Crewe Alexandra's Girls Centre of Excellence, won the scholarship after video footage of her skills was shown to one of the tutors.

The Clayton Hall Business and Language College pupil, who plays in central midfield, said: "I am nervous, but also excited as well because going to America has always been my dream."

Shanttel, who lives in Windermere Road, Clayton, took up the sport at the age of 12 after her brother bought her a football. She initially played with all-boys teams at her school on Thursday evenings before taking part in matches in Row Lane, Clayton, on Saturdays where she was signed up for the Madeley Swans.

She then went on to play for Stoke City's Centre of Excellence for Girls and Langdale Harriers Ladies FC and missed a place in the England team last year.

Shanttel, who says she is inspired by footballers such as Kelly Smith and David Beckham, dreams of playing for the England team as well as in the major league in America.

She said: "If more women get involved then it will become a bigger sport for them and more matches will be shown on TV."

Shanttel has been nominated for The Sentinel's Our Heroes competition in the Bright Young Thing category by her mother Wanda Green.

The 50-year-old, who is a kitchen assistant at Hempstalls Primary School in Cross Heath, said: "She is so brave to be going out to America at such a young age.

"She deserves this award as she is a really well-liked kid,

both around the area and at school.She wants to inspire other kids who sit around drinking and smoking."

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Story filed in: Our Heroes | News