From playing with the boys to fulfilling a WSL dream
Molly Stroud is hoping she can achieve her dreams of being a professional footballer
- Published
"She can certainly play in the WSL easy, if not Champions League," says football coach Dave Leonard of Molly Stroud.
The 16-year-old from Plymouth is joining Manchester City's academy on a two-year deal.
She is set to swap playing with the boys in the Devon Under-16 league to rubbing shoulders with some of the world's best at the reigning WSL and Women's FA Cup champions.
"It just makes me think that my hard work and dedication's paid off," says Stroud, who was scouted while playing for Wales Under-16s after getting her first call-up last August.
"Living down here we don't get as many opportunities or as much exposure as you would up there. So the fact that I've got the opportunity to move up there, it's just fantastic really."
Stroud, a centre-back, has been playing with the boys since she was in primary school, and feels it is one of the big reasons why her game has developed so much.
"They do tower over me now, but when I was 12 years old I think I was the tallest in the group," she jokes.
"I've played boys' football ever since I was about 10 years old, really. It's all I've ever known.
"I just feel like it's a good physical challenge. When I was younger I was more dominating, but then as I've got older they've shot up and it's more of a challenge for me.
"I definitely think that I can still cope with it on the technical ability side, but I feel like this season was my last season with the boys, which is a bit bittersweet after doing it for quite a while now."
Molly Stroud has agreed a two-year academy deal with Manchester City
As well as playing club football, Stroud is also the star player for Devon Girls' Under-16 side.
She helped the team win the ESFA Inter-County Cup final last month when they beat Durham 2-1 at Stoke City's Bet365 Stadium.
"When you look at the women's game, Manchester City are probably one of the biggest teams in Europe, if not in the world," says Devon coach Leonard.
"Her attitude and determination are key, and then her technical and tactical side of the game has improved over the last five years.
"Having played in the boys' game all throughout her Devon junior career from under-11s up to under-16s, that's given her the benefits to be able to be strong and competitive in the women's game and she'll go on and do really, really well."
It will mean some upheaval for Stroud.
She will have to leave behind her family and friends in Devon and move in with a host family in Manchester - almost 300 miles away.
"As a family we're really proud of Molly and what she's achieved," says her father Brett, who was a professional rugby player with Plymouth Albion.
"Man City, you don't get any bigger than that, and it's something she thoroughly deserves in our family's eyes, because she's very driven.
"Since a kid, she's always been pulling that shirt saying, 'Come on Dad, let's get out and kick a ball around.' She's always been very active from a young age, so hopefully our dreams will come true."
