Ever dreamed of pulling on an England shirt and walking out to thousands of fans chanting your name? It's not just David Beckham and Michael Owen who gets a chance to wear the Three Lions with pride, on display today you will see the fantastic skills of the most talented women footballers in England. But while some girls may think the opportunity to play for their country is a million miles away from kicking a ball around in the school playground or joining their local girl’s league, you'd be wrong. Of course, not just anyone can play for England. Because women's football is the fastest-growing sport in the country, it means that the competition will become stronger at every age group and there will be more people challenging to reach the top.
Since The Football Association took over the running of the women's game in 1993, there have been massive advances in the structure of development and in the amount of opportunity for female footballers. Right from the mini soccer game played by the young in small sided games on smaller pitches, to the centres of excellence, there is a route now to encourage excellence.
By the time most youngsters come through the player pathway, there will be a women’s professional league too and The FA have announced plans to give girls the opportunity to make a living from their sport. There's never been a better time to get involved. Take a look at the diagram and see how you could map your ascent from starting out in the game to reaching the very top.