Millie Wilson - a girl in a boys’ world

Football mad Millie Wilson

Keen footballer Millie Wilson is definitely a girl in a boys’ world, especially when she runs onto the pitch with Whitworth Valley Boys.

She was scouted for the team by manager George Penlington after she played two seasons for the girl's side.

Millie, a year 7 student at Whitworth Community High School, said: “I used to play with the girls, but we would struggle to turn out a team with substitutes and so when I got asked to join the boys I did.

“There are times when I turn up at a match and it can be really scary. I am usually the only female playing and I get a bit nervous before the game starts.

“A lot of people will look at me strangely, but when the game gets under way I am just one of the boys.

“At first my friends thought it was a bit strange that I was playing with the boys’ team, but now they accept it.”

Millie, 12, attends weekly training with Whitworth Valley at Fearns Community Sports College and plays home matches at Whitworth Community High School where she also trains every Monday with the school team.

She said: “I am one of just two year 7s who was selected to play for the school’s year 7 and 8 team. I play defence or midfield.

“When we played Chorlton High School in Manchester we won 2-0 and I scored one of the goals and the other was scored by Maizie Harnett, the other Year 7.”

The school team is now in the third round of the ESFA Girls’ Under 13 Playstation nine-a-side Schools’ Cup and they will face Rainhill High School in St Helen's after half-term.

Millie said: “Football is good because everyone on the team is really friendly and we all work well together. When we win it is even better.

“In our training sessions we are always learning new techniques like how to take a throw in and then we get to put into practice what we have learnt in a match.

“After the match if something doesn’t work out, we will take it back to the next training session.”

She hopes to become a primary school teacher because then she can teach all subjects, including PE.