Former school of Lioness Jess Carter to launch sport scholarship

The former school of England footballer Jess Carter has said it plans to honour the star with a sports scholarship to fund opportunities for promising students.

The 27-year-old defender, a two-time European champion with England after Sunday night’s win over Spain, attended Aylesford School in Warwick when she was in Year 10 and 11.

Headteacher Peter Gilbride said the school had held talks with Carter’s dad over a programme which could start in September.

“We recognise that it is not always easy and we want to help with funding,” he said of sporting students’ ambitions.

Speaking to BBC Midlands Today, Mr Gilbride said: “I think it’s really important to celebrate the achievement of Jess and the team, and talk about that with our pupils so they go on to aspire to become the athlete she has become.

“She is a great example for us to refer back to them.”

He added: “I spoke to Jess’s dad this morning and we spoke about a scholarship that we’d like to put in place to [help] families be able to take part in any sporting achievement they’re aiming for.”

Carter’s former PE teacher Kirsten McMurray said the footballer would play everywhere at school but defence – the role she has with England.

She said: “She was hugely talented with everything to do with sport. She was a lovely, lovely student, who had great traits to be a leader and to be a star athlete.

“[At school] she would play anywhere but defence, essentially. She would play midfield, striker if we wanted her to but literally anywhere but defence.”