Born Kicking: Eveie Grace Stoker, Matilda Cox and Poppy Isabelle Kirby

Three young players take the reader questionnaire. Eveie Grace Stoker, nine, of Washington United Lionesses plays midfield, does a Washy chant before every game and names Fran Kirby as her hero for playing for England on the anniversary of her mother’s death. Matilda Cox, ten, from Ipswich plays in goal for a boys’ team and a girls’ team, holds season tickets at QPR and West Ham Women, idolises Karen Bardsley, and once completed a whole training session dressed as a reindeer with fairy lights, winning the competition. Poppy Isabelle Kirby, twelve, plays right-back for the first girls’ team in Wormley Youths’ 45-year history, touches the match ball before kick-off, and names her grandad and her policeman father, who coaches the team, as her heroes.