A YORK College student has been selected for a national women’s football squad.

Jess Holder, formerly of Joseph Rowntree School, will take part in a two-day training camp with the 2018/19 English Colleges Football Association (ECFA) squad at St George's Park.

The 16-year-old will play her first national fixture against Independent Schools FA at English football's training headquarters.

From there, she could be picked to join the trip to Italy for the Roma Caput Mundi tournament next year.

Holder trained with York City RTC (Regional Talent Club) from age seven to 16, and currently plays for the York College Women’s Football Development Centre while studying a Level 3 Diploma in sport.

She said: “When my sister was at (York) college, she talked about the ECFA national squad as if it was the ultimate accolade and I used to think I could aim for that – and now here I am.

"Being chosen for the national squad is a huge honour and I hope it will bring even more opportunities for me to progress.

"In the future I want to be the best player I can be and have a career in sport.”

Gaz Lee, coordinator for York College Football Centre, said: “Jess is a dedicated player and deserves this opportunity at this stage of her training.

"She follows in the footsteps of Zoe Belding, Issie Spray, Rosie Todd and Hannah Greenwood in recent years.

"Jess' selection to the UK squad continues to validate the Women’s Football Development Centre at York College as one of the region’s best, continually getting players to fulfil their potential.”