New City College Sport student Grace Craven has been selected for the England Colleges FA national team and will travel to Europe early next year to play in a match against Italy.
Grace, 18, who studies at NCC’s Epping Forest campus and is part of the college’s Tottenham Hotspur Football Development Programme, says she is proud to be representing her country – and is gradually building on her ultimate ambition to become an England Lioness!
She said: “I am excited to be part of the England Colleges squad. Football is my life and my passion. Every minute of every day I am somewhere kicking a ball or teaching other people how to kick a ball! It’s what I enjoy and I am looking forward to playing and training with different girls and continuing to develop as a player.”
As well as the trip to play against Italy in February, Grace, who lives in Loughton, will have many other opportunities through being part of the squad, such as high-profile fixtures and an overnight training camp at the FA’s St George’s Park – home training ground of England’s national football teams.
Already she has played in a match against Bristol Under 21s and the squad will take on the Independent Schools team in their next game. They then face the Army’s national side in a match in January.