The Women’s’ World Cup has just kicked off in Canada
And a teenager from Huddersfield is about to jet across the Atlantic to fulfil her own soccer dream.
Former Brighouse Juniors player Francesca Wild has grabbed the chance of a lifetime as she heads to America to pursue a career in football.
Francesca, who is known as Frankie, has been starring with Huddersfield Town Ladies since joining the club in July 2014.
Now the 17-year-old student is getting ready for a new challenge some 4,000 miles away from home.
Frankie studied at Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School before moving on to Huddersfield New College.
The promising footballer started out playing football for Shelf Under 7 boys team moving onto Brighouse Juniors, where she got her first taste of the female game.
Club spokesman Richard Brearley said: “After two successful seasons at Broad Oak, the team moved on to open age at Brighouse Sports (now Athletic).
“But Frankie took her own route, going on to play for South Leeds Ladies, Barnsley Ladies and finally signing for Huddersfield Town Ladies last summer.
“She plans to spend pre-season training with Brighouse Town Ladies and Brighouse Juniors before jetting off to the USA where she will be studying at Park University in Missouri just outside Kansas City and playing in the NAIA league”.
After completing her scholarship the youngster hopes to have enjoyed a four-year successful period playing in the States then further her career pushing for a place in the National Womens Soccer League (NWSL).
Back home in Brighouse, her former club has enjoyed its most successful season. The Under 15 girls finished fourth in the League and won the West Riding Shield.
The Under 12 girls made it through to the Shield final.
Both teams started with small squads quickly recruiting and developing their teams before the season began. The club is now looking to enter further teams into the West Riding League with under 11s and 13s teams already forming and new recruits being taken on.
The club have also held Football “Akidemy” sessions this season, run by ex professional footballers Andy Welsh and Danny Cadamarteri.
