BUDDING female footballers are being invited to trials in June for the newly-branded Yorkshire Belles Girls’ Centre of Excellence.

The York College-based programme, formerly known as the North Yorkshire Girls’ Centre of Excellence, has been running for seven years and currently boasts several England youth players among its ranks.

Defender Chloe Macek and goalkeeper Rosie Todd, who are from Easingwold and Fulford respectively, have followed the likes of fellow Yorkshire Belles Gemma Purfield, Ellie Wilkinson and Sophie Stamp into the Three Lionesses’ under-17 squad.

Stamp, meanwhile, was recently called up to the national U19 ranks while still only 16.

Schoolgirls Macek and Todd are also just 14 and 15 respectively with centre of excellence technical consultant Gordon Staniforth explaining the vision of the Yorkshire Belles’ is to provide a four-step pathway from parks fields to the full international stage.

The former York City attacker said: “We want to take girls from grassroots level, through our centre, to the Women’s Super League and, if they are good enough, into the England squad.”

Having been installed as Doncaster Rovers Belles new manager this season, Staniforth intends to give the most promising girls at the centre of excellence an opportunity to play in the FA Women’s Super League 2 for the famous South Yorkshire side.

Graduates from Sim Balk Lane such as Purfield, Stamp and Lauren Webb are already turning out for the new-look Doncaster team but Staniforth also insisted that the centre’s traditional linkswith York City Ladies, who operate in the North-East Regional Women’s League, will remain strong and unsevered.

He added: “All girls will eventually get the chance to train with Doncaster Rovers Belles as they look to find their level in the game. We will also continue to work closely with and provide players for York City Ladies, who are becoming stronger and stronger by the season.”

Staniforth is particularly interested in finding new U9 recruits for the centre at the June trials, which will be staged on Saturday, June 14, 21 and 28 at York College.

He said: “There has got to be some talent out there that we don’t know about and we want to find the next Sue Smith, who plays for Doncaster and has won 93 England caps. Players from our centre have already represented their country in places like Sweden and Finland and regularly attend camps at the FA’s St George’s Park national training base in Burton, where they get looked after incredibly well in every aspect.”

Trials on the above dates will be held from 10am to noon for girls born between 2002 and 2007 and from 1pm to 3.15pm for girls born between 1998 and 2001.

Anybody interested in attending, should contact centre manager Gail Colling by emailing gail@gailcolling.orangehome.co.uk or by phoning 07870 170251.

The centre would also welcome inquiries from any potential sponsors.