Oxfordshire youngster ‘honoured’ by England youth call-up

Violet Parsons of Bicester is the only Oxfordshire-based player to be included in either the England Under 15 Schoolgirls Team or the Under 18 Schoolboys Team, both of which were announced on March 25.

The 14-year-old plays for Oxford United Academy and said her dream is to play professional football in the Women’s Super League and be called up to the senior England squad, known as the Lionesses.

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The left wing-back said: “It is an honour to be selected for the England Schoolgirls Under 15s, and something I’ve only dreamed of since I started playing at the age of nine.

“My ultimate ambition is to represent my country in the World Cup, and progress to play professional football in the WSL.”

Violet Parsons of Bicester has been called up to an England youth side (Image: Natalie Parsons)

From an initial shortlist of 80, there were 18 girls picked to be part of the U15 squad, with the new squad’s first match to be against Wales on May 23.

This will be at Cirencester Town FC.

A number of Lionesses have played for the England U15 Schoolgirls Team, with Poppy Pattinson most recently making the step up.

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The 25-year-old was in the squad in 2015 and made her debut for the senior team against Ukraine on March 3, having impressed for London City Lionesses and Brighton & Hove Albion before that.

Set up in 1904, the English Schools’ Football Association is the national governing body for schools’ football in England and has also run international squads since 1907.

The association provides over one million footballing opportunities for school pupils in England, each year.