Little Kicks: Born Kicking with Raffaella Camelia (age 9)

The second of two young-reader items in this issue, with nine-year-old Raffaella Camelia – Raffie or Raff to her team-mates – who is described as addicted to football and plays for an all-boys’ side, Forestdale FC, as well as Arsenal’s Under-9 Academy, while supporting Charlton Athletic. Her father took her to her first Charlton game at eight months old. She is two-footed but loves scoring with her left, plays striker or on the wing for the feeling when she scores, and once hit an opposing goalkeeper in the mouth with the ball and knocked his tooth out. She would most like to meet Steph Houghton, for the way she brings her team together, and also Mo Salah, and is going to all of England’s group games.