Former Saltash. net Community School pupil Emily Sleeman is enjoying life at Chelsea Ladies' Academy.

The 17-year-old was given a contract by the Blues in June following a successful trial and, after six months at the Academy, the former Plymouth Argyle midfielder says the experience of mixing studies with football is 'a dream come true.'

Said Emily: 'I have settled in really well; the players, coaches and teachers make it really easy for me to be myself. Our college is linked with Chelsea – they balance it to allow us to train and complete college work without it all getting too much. I am doing the BTEC Level Three extended dip-loma in sports performance; it's really good as we can often use examples of how we played in our matches to help with assignments for things like sport psychology.'

The ambitious teenager believes contrast between Argyle and Chelsea is huge, but is thankful to the South West club for giving her foundations on which to build on.

'It feels a lot more professional (at Chelsea) in the sense that we have better facilities such as getting to train at Cobham, the first teams training ground,' she said. I owe a lot to the people at Plymouth for helping me get this far. There is lot more competition for places with a squad of 32, so it makes me more determined to play, whereas with Plymouth there were less (players) so it was easier to get picked.'

On the pitch the teenager has been performing well, playing regularly for the academy first team.

Lucky

Emily believes quality training and facilities are helping her reach her potential, and admitted: 'It's going well.

'There are two squads within our team. We have the Academy team and the Development squad – and

so far I have been lucky enough to be picked for the Academy team.

'I play centre midfield, but the manager enjoys mixing positions so that players get an idea of how to play other positions, so I have played right midfield as well.'

With Emily's contract running out next summer – when she turns 18 – the ex-Saltash.net student is already looking to the future, believing she can gain a scholarship to play football in America that could open the door to play in the Super League.

'Most girl footballers are chasing the same dream so there is a lot of competition, but that is definitely the goal I'm aiming for,' she revealed.

'The Super League (which is the women's equivalent

to the men's Premier League)... that is the place to be if you are a woman football player.

'Football over there is bigger than men's; they often get crowds of 30,000.

'So I will leave when I'm 18 and hopefully I'll have a scholarship to look forward.'

Emily believes that more girls should get involved in football, and offered this advice to any young promising footballers wanting to make it: 'Stay determined, never let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough or that you won't make it – and if someone says "no" keep going, keep believing and one day you will make it.'