AN aspiring footballer is set to follow her dreams after being awarded a prestigious scholarship in America.

Bishop Auckland College student, Chloe Allan, has been playing football since she was a young girl and played for Sunderland when she was 8 and Leeds as a teenager.

The 18-year-old, of Barnard Castle, now plays her favourite sport for Durham Development Team in the Women's Premier League (Northern), against teams such as Manchester City, Everton FC and Sunderland.

But it was through a conversation with one of her former teammates that the teenager discovered opportunities to play football through scholarship schemes in the United States.

Miss Allan applied and went through a vigorous selection process which included sending off video footage of her playing competitive football in the UK.

That led to several universities and colleges in the States taking notice of her football skills and talent and she was offered eight scholarships in total.

The youngster chose to study sports science and soccer at NorthWest Technical College in Goodland, Kansas, as she thought it offered the best overall package.

The two-year community college scholarship, will see her play for the college's ladies soccer team called the Mavericks who compete in one of the top leagues.

It will also enable her to become qualified in the sports industry and the offer of a university degree programme in the United States in the future.

Miss Allan said: "I am delighted to be given this opportunity - it has always been an ambition and a dream of mine to play football in America.

"The sport is very big over there and it will give me the chance to study and play football to a high standard. I have enjoyed my time at Bishop Auckland College and I am now looking forward to flying to the States in July to start my scholarship in August."