WHEN keen footballer Jemma Thornton injured her back, she was forced to shelve her playing ambitions.

However, it has not meant the end of her involvement in football, because she switched her attention to coaching.

Youngsters take part in weekly training and tuition to learn the rudiments of the game on a Football in the Community scheme at Deerness Valley Comprehensive School, in Ushaw Moor, near Durham.

Keen goalkeeper Jemma, 17, has shown her potential on the coaching side and she now helps course coaches put the young players through their paces.

She is the only girl on the course to achieve her Football Association level one coaching badge.

She said: "I have always been a big football fan and I used to play as a goalkeeper for the Army Cadet Force and for the school team.

"I was going to join up on the course when I had an accident and hurt my back, so I could not play.

"But I have tried the coaching and I have passed my level one.

"There was a written test and the rest was practical. It was not too bad and I am now going to try for my level two."

Jemma, who said being a little "mouthy" has helped her, said she would like to go on to be a full coach.

In the meantime, however, she is continuing studies on a public services diploma course at New College Durham, which could lead to a job in the police, Army or fire service.