An 11-year-old girl from Ordsall Park Juniors FC has signed onto Manchester City’s Under 12’s girls academy team.
Summer Holt, 11, was signed into the academy after only playing at the Ordsall-based club for one season.
The talented striker, who has previously scored up to eight goals in one match, received offers from Everton, as well as Manchester City. Summer’s mum, Gemma Holt, said: “We are so so proud of Summer, she’s worked so hard and she’s so determined.
“All she has ever wanted is to play football, she’s never without a ball at her feet.”
Summer began playing football in after school teams at age seven, where she was the only girl on the pitch. After coaches began to recognise her talent, Gemma and Summer’s dad, Mark, began to look for more challenging opportunities for her. Gemma continued: “It was the coaches at the after school club that told us that Summer had something in her, we’d never seen her play. We were surprised when she said she wanted to play.
“She used to always be given the trophy at the end of the session, and I actually pulled over the coach to ask if it was a sympathy vote, but he said that she deserved it and she stands out.
“We told her that nobody plays like that, she needed to be challenged and that’s when she joined boy’s leagues.”
Summer earned the place in the academy after more than 380 girls were assessed through three challenge phases. Despite coming from a family of Manchester United supporters, Gemma and Mark were thrilled at their daughter’s success and “the pride they feel outranks anything.”
With dreams of becoming a Lioness and earning enough money from football to buy the family, including big sister and talented cross-country runner, Madison, and dog, Bolt (named after Usain Bolt), a new house and car, Summer’s commitment to the sport has never wavered. Gemma
said: “She’s never without a ball at her feet, she even walks the dog with a ball at her feet.
“She’s come from a family where mum and dad go out for runs, I play Netball, and Madison runs with Sale Harriers. It’s all she’s ever known.
“She takes it all in her stride, nothing phases her. I could have crumbled so many times, but she just never has. All Summer wants to do for her life is to play football. She’s aiming high and it’s all she’s ever wanted.”
Gemma thanked Ordsall Park Juniors for the opportunities they have opened up for her daughter, before the team head to Nottingham for a series of national finals in later this month. She added: “Ordsall Park have got such a good standard and we just can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for Summer.
“It’s all down to the fantastic work of the team.”
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