Youngsters inspired by Lionesses and Euros selected for …

Two young Cambs football players inspired by England's Lionesses and the Euros have been selected to join Cambridge United^[1]. Reuben Bryant, 8, and Isla Rayner, ten, both attend Longthorpe Primary School in Peterborough.

Isla, who has been playing football since the age of four, gained a place on the Cambridge United U12 Girls Development team during the summer and now trains with them once a week. Meanwhile goalkeeper Reuben has signed an Academy contract with Cambridge United for the 2023/2024 season.

He had to make the difficult decision to pick them over Peterborough United, the team he supports. And his ultimate dream is to become the England men's goalkeeper.

Isla's mum Emma Rayner said: "Isla has been playing football since she was four when she began training with the boys because a girls’ team wasn’t available for her at the time. She has been hooked ever since and is now playing her third season for Netherton United U11 Girls.

"Over the summer she attended a trial at Cambridge United and successfully gained a place on the U12 Girls Development team and now trains with them once a week. After just five training sessions she has been selected to play her first fixture with that team against Colchester in the half term holiday."

Isla has met Lionesses manager Sarina Weigman and player Beth Mead but says her favourite member of the squad is Lucy Bronze. For her birthday this year her family hired the club house at Netherton United and she watched the second World Cup fixture on a projector screen joined by all her friends.

She said: “I adore the Lionesses and I have been to see them play quite a lot of times now. I went to the Euros semi finals and I will watch them play Belgium at Leicester during half term."

Meanwhile Reuben, who is in Year 4, was never a massive fan of football and initially preferred playing with his trains and learning about space. However Euro 2021 caught his attention and he soon developed a passion for standing in goal to catch balls kicked by the older boys.

He told his older brother's grassroots coach that he would only play in a team for his age if he could be goalkeeper - and his journey began. He continued with his grassroots team at under 7 level, unaware he was being watched by scouts from local academies.

Reuben was asked to go on trial at Leicester City, Peterborough United and Cambridge United. He then had to pick between Peterborough and Cambridge and now travels to Newmarket^[4] twice a week for training

His mother Hannah Bryant said: “Reuben really began to enjoy football while watching the Euros in 2021 he especially loved watching the goal keepers and watching how they saved the ball and how crazy they were. His favourite footballing moment is Alisson Becker the Liverpool goalkeeper scoring a goal in the last minute of a game to win the match!"

Reuben has played at the grounds of Crystal Palace, Leicester, Fulham, Bournemouth, AFC Wimbledon, Leeds, Milton Keynes and Manchester City, where his favourite footballing moment so far was saving a penalty against the home side. Along the way he has already met some famous footballing faces including ex-England Manager Glen Hoddle, Patrick Bamford, Jonson Clarke-Harris and former England goalkeeper David James.

Hannah added: "Reuben is really enjoying his journey and is looking forward to spending many more weekends travelling to many fantastic training grounds across the county and the possibility of an international tour representing Cambridge United. Even though he knows that he has to put in a lot of hard work and focus and that one day it could all come to an end his ultimate dream is to be England’s number one!

Kate Trethewy, headteacher of Longthorpe Primary School, part of Peterborough^[5] Keys Academies Trust, said: “I am very proud of Isla and Reuben’s accomplishments; the pride and joy on their faces when I talk to them about their football, is clear to see. It is wonderful that our children build on the health and fitness we offer in school in the form of daily exercise such as the 'Daily mile' alongside the quality PE lessons we deliver.

"We look forward to seeing how their future pans out and wish them every success."

References

1. ^{^} Cambridge United (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Cambridge bus changes scheduled for Bonfire Night (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
3. ^{^} New map shows how East West Rail would connect Cambridge to other UK cities (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Newmarket (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
5. ^{^} Peterborough (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)