Image Credits: Imago Images
St David’s College student Emily Hawson has signed a two-year Professional Game Academy contract with Liverpool Women Under-21s, according to North Wales Pioneer.
The achievement follows an impressive season in which Hawson represented Wales Women’s Under-17s in UEFA qualifiers across Europe while also playing in multiple age groups for Liverpool.
She recently helped the club win the national Peer 2 Peer Tournament, beating Chelsea 2-1 in the final, and also finished as a runner-up in another national final.
Hawson moves into the academy setup, and the Year 11 student will become a full-time athlete, training five days a week with the team.
The programme will allow her to further develop her skills, fitness and understanding of the game in a professional environment, while continuing her education through morning studies.
A spokesperson from St David’s College said: “It’s a fantastic achievement and a reflection of all the hard work and commitment she has put into her football so far.
“All through Emily’s time at St David’s, she has done a great job balancing school life with her football. She has shown real discipline and determination, managing both her studies and training, which puts her in a strong position for what comes next.
“The support from the staff and the positive environment at St David’s College have also played an important role in giving her the confidence to pursue her dream of becoming a professional footballer.”
Andy Russell, Headmaster, added: “This is a huge and exciting step forward for Emily. It’s a well-deserved opportunity, and it will be great to see how she continues to develop over the next couple of years. Whilst we’ll be very sad to see our football sensation leave St David’s, we are all so excited to see what happens next.”
Mr Russell joked: “Just to note, I have only approved her move because it is LFC – any other club and she would be staying. It’s all about what’s good for the individual child.”
Hawson was recently named in the Wales Under-19 squad for their international friendly against Denmark on June 6. The match was played behind closed doors as part of preparations for the next round of UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championship qualifiers.