Ellie’s Mixing It With the Big Boys (Ellie Hilton interview)

At seventeen, Ellie Hilton is the oldest girl in England still playing boys’ football, at Under-18 level with Croston FC, whom she joined at six. Brunel University and the FA are studying her experience and injury rates because girls will now play in boys’ leagues at Regional Talent Clubs, and she was happy to help prove that girls do not end up with a broken leg every time they step on the pitch. Having played for Burscough Girls, Manchester United’s Centre of Excellence and Chorley as well, she argues playing with boys improves the physical side and reading of the game, though the technical side may develop better at a centre. At five foot one she adapts rather than competes physically.