WITH women's football very much in the public eye at the moment with the European championships in full swing, Hereford has unearthed its own potential star of the future.
Lauren James, who has been playing for the successful Pegasus Ladies side, is all set for the big time after winning a place at the Charlton Athletic Women's Football Academy.
Although, in men's football, Charlton are generally viewed as a mid-rank Premiership side, their female counterparts are among the leaders in the national game. They are the current women's FA Cup holders and were National Premier League runners-up, behind Arsenal, in the season just finished.
To a degree, Pegasus mirrored this success last term when they were runners-up in Division 1 of the West Midlands Women's Regional League and won the Hereford and Worcester Ladies County Challenge Cup when Lauren scored the opening goal.
Fifteen-year-old Lauren, who has just left Whitecross High School, joined Pegasus three years ago and can look forward to a significant change in her lifestyle as she heads for the capital.
She will be studying for a Btech National Diploma in Sports Studies, combined with an A-level in PE, thanks to a tie-in that Charlton have with Canterbury High School, which specialises in elite athletes.
Her studies seem set to occupy her from 9am-3pm each week-day with football following on for three hours every day.
"It is a huge opportunity for Lauren and what we have been aiming for," said Pegasus director of women's football Dee Graham. "You do not come across talent like Lauren's every day.
"Pegasus are extremely proud to have been a part of her development and since she joined the club in 2002 I have always been keen to help her succeed to her full potential."
Lauren's footballing talents have hardly come as a surprise to her family as her grandfather Les was a well-known local sportsman who played football for Hereford United in the 1950s.
While at Edgar Street, he played in the same side as Roy Williams, father of Pegasus' director of football Mark Williams.
Les was a forward whose principal claim to fame was a haul of four goals in the Bulls' 10-5 win over Cup holders West Bromwich Albion in a friendly match back in 1954. But Lauren's concentration is usually focused on events at the other end of the pitch from her position at left-back.
"I'm really delighted although it's a big challenge ahead," said Lauren, whose ambition is to break through into the Charlton first-team and to go on to play for England. She will be moving to Canterbury in September.
"Pegasus Juniors wish her the very best of luck," said Mark Williams. "I must thank fellow director Dee Graham and ladies team captain Julie Nicholas for their efforts in helping Lauren in this wonderful achievement."
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