LEYTONSTONE: World Cup hotshot inspired by family (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LEYTONSTONE: World Cup hotshot inspired by family

10:39am Monday 24th November 2008 in

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A HOTSHOT footballer says her impressive performance at a youth World Cup tournament were inspired by her family.

Danielle Carter, 15, who trains at the Leyton Orient Girls Centre of Excellence, has been one of the stars of the Under-17 Women's World Cup, scoring twice against Brazil in the first round and converting a penalty against Japan during a tense quarter final shoot out.

She said: "My mum Valerie, little brother Liam and my grandparents are my inspiration and have helped me. My mum takes time off work to take my to games and has done for years."

Danielle, of Leytonstone, started playing football aged seven but had to play with the boys at St Saviours Primary School, in Berulam Avenue, Walthamstow, because none of the girls would participate.

"I thought playing football with the boys was normal,” she said.

The teenager won her first England cap in February last year when she was called up to the squad to face Germany's under-15s in two friendlies.

"I found out when the Football Association sent me a letter a week beforehand. I was excited and I showed my mum the letter straight away," she said.

Danielle and the rest of the squad trained at the Bisham Abbey training complex, which is used by Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and the rest of the senior England squad.

"While I was there Bolton Wanderers were training at the same time and I got autographs from Nicolas Anelka, Gary Speed and El Hadj Diouf," she said proudly.

Danielle has scored ten goals in 17 appearances for England and her world cup form has not gone unnoticed.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Charlton, Millwall and Barnet are all rumoured to be interested in signing the teenage starlet.

Danielle said: "My dream would be to play for Arsenal because I'm a fan and most of my family supports them. I would also love to play professionally in America because the women's game is huge over there."

But she is going to have to put her world cup highs in New Zealand behind her as she tackles her GCSE exams in the coming weeks.

She said: "My school has given me some extra time to prepare for my exams because I've been away. I'm confident that if I work hard I'll do well in my exams."