WYCLIFFE pupil Aimee Jones is setting her sights on playing football for England.

But the 11-year-old is realistic about women’s football. “It’s not the most popular sport I know. Girls need to be encouraged to try football,” she said.

Aimee, who is in Year 7 at Wycliffe Preparatory School in Stonehouse, has been selected to play at Bristol Academy, Women’s Football Club.

Last year she trialled for the Centre of Excellence and was signed in the autumn.

Aimee, from Wotton-under-Edge, trains twice a week in Bristol.

“Since I’ve been at Bristol my skills have improved. My favourite position is striker but because of my age I get to play positions all around the field,” she said.

Aimee fell in love with football when she was six and is a staunch Chelsea supporter.

“Football is a great sport. It’s very pushy. We girls don’t lie down on the ground crying like some of the men. We get up and sprint around and get on with playing.”

Aimee’s love of football has meant her dad is now a fan of the game. “My dad’s not into football but I have got him watching it now with me.”

Her role model is David Beckham. “He wasn’t brought up to be famous. He started from nothing. The fact that he did it all by himself is really good.”

The highlight of her playing so far was a match against Chelsea at Stanford Bridge. “We lost but it was great to play there,” she said.