A teenager with one eye on the World Cup finals is gearing up for the biggest football tournament of her life - an England clash against old rivals, Germany.

Carly Telford, 16, of Newburn Road, Stanley, has jetted out to Leipzig as part of the England Under-19s ladies squad taking part in the European Championships.

The team will take on Italy and Sweden, then hosts Germany, in a televised match on Eurosport, on Tuesday at 7pm.

Her dad, Colin, said: "This is the first time she will have a squad number and her name on her shirt, so we will be looking out for her on the TV.

"I am particularly proud of her. She did it the hard way, like girls her age had to."

While playing for Chester-le-Street Ladies, she was spotted by a scout for Newcastle United and sent for trials. "We thought there was going to be other girls there, but we turned up and it was all boys," said Mr Telford.

"Carly was named the most promising prospect out of them all. Newcastle didn't have any facilities for women's football, so for two years there, she trained with the boys.

"She had to get changed in the car because they didn't have a changing room for girls."

After two seasons with Newcastle, she was released and is now first choice keeper for Sunderland AFCW Under-17s. She came through Derwentside Leisure's sports development programme. Her dad was so impressed with it that he has signed on as chairman of its Women's Football Action Group.

Colin McBride, who heads the project, said: "We plan to develop girls' football in a big way over the next three to five years. "Carly is a shining example as a role model for younger girls and a great ambassador for Derwentside."

She has played for England Under-16s and is already looking towards the World Cup finals, to be held here in 2007.

"By the time the World Cup comes around, these girls will be in their early twenties and will have played together for years," said Mr Telford. "They might take a few trouncings in the meantime, but they will be ready for the big one."

Another youngster to come through the district's sports development programme, Joanne Jackson, 16, is also in Europe this week, competing in the Fina World Swimming Championships in Barcelona.