Callington Town Ladies teenager Eleri Griffiths will have an anxious wait over the festive period to hear whether she will be offered a scholarship at a major United States university, writes Dave Potham.

The 18-year-old recently attended a look and see session at St Georges Park, Burton, organised by FirstPoint USA. The players were watched by numerous coaches from top class US universities.

Griffiths, who joined Callington at the age of 16 and is predominately an attacking player, can play anywhere across the midfield or up front.

She was also last season’s top scorer in Callington’s promotion campaign, averaging a goal a game.

The teenager lives in Saltash and joined Callington having played for both her school (saltash.net) and Saltash Youth Club sides.

Eleri is studying at the moment and working part-time at Tesco in Callington, but hopes to be offered a scholarship through FirstPoint USA.

She said: ‘Playing at St George’s Park was an amazing experience. Being able to play amongst players from Manchester City, Crystal Palace etc, and use top-class facilities was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss.

‘I am now excited to see where the next year takes me ¬ whether I go off to play in the US or begin my university life here in the UK.’

Callington Town manager Adam McPherson said: ‘Eleri joined us as one of the county’s top young female players. We were pleased to bring her in and help develop her game.

‘We knew she had talent and potential, but she’s easily exceeded our expectations over the past couple of years.

‘She plays the game with such maturity, is a brilliant trainer and a great team-player. Writing a reference for her scholarship was an easy task.’

He added: ’We’ve had a few players wear the Callington shirt and go on to earn places in the States playing the sport they love.

‘It’s something we are proud of that we can provide the right platform for them to achieve their ambitions, should oversees education and football be the route they wish to take.

‘There is no doubt that Eleri has improved her game with us and is more than ready to take her game to the next level in America. She will be a big loss to us though sadly.’

Griffiths will hope to join former Callington players Chelsea Horton and Corrie McDonald in the US. McDonald went to Western Nebraska Community Collge for two years before completing her studies at York College Nebraska.

There is an interview with Corrie on the firstpointusa web site which gives an interesting insight in to what it is like to move to the United States on a sports scholarship to study and to play football.