Fourteen-year-old Beth Craig has been selected for an American scholarship after being spotted on the football pitch by an agency consultant. The Blackpool FC and island U16s squad member speaks to reporter Jess Ward about the achievement.

She’s a young Douglas star who has quickly risen to the attention of many due to her talents in football, having started in the boys’ St Mary’s team at the age of eight and now being selected for a scholarship across the Atlantic.

Unbeknown to Beth at the time, she was observed last month while playing in the island’s U16 squad by a consultant from Title IX - an agency that identifies and assists young female atheletes in pursuing sports scholarships in the USA.

A scholarship was offered to her and three others - with three more players currently being considered - which would see them study at an American college.

The Ballakermeen High School student will need to pass her GCSEs and A Levels to be accepted into a college in 2023.

On getting the offer, Beth said: ’I thought it was a joke! And then I began thinking that maybe it was something that was easy to get, like she hands them out, but apparently not.

’She watched me once and said "yes I want you".

’It’s a lot of pressure because if I don’t pass my exams it could be delayed, but I just have to work hard.’

She added: ’It feels great knowing what I want to do. Before, I felt I was at a stop sign and now I’m just sprinting towards my goal.’

Having signed a contract, Beth’s matches will be filmed and sent to different colleges along with her exam results in the hopes of being selected. This process will be coming out of her mother Tracy’s pocket.

Tracy has been a huge supporter of Beth’s progress, having helped coach her and her friends as well as pay for trips to and from the UK for Beth’s matches with Blackpool FC.

’My mum’s life and work is football. She knows what I need to work on and she’s been an amazing coach,’ Beth said.

’When I was eight, my friends played for this club [St Mary’s] which was all boys. I talked with the coach, Joey Doyle, who was my friend’s dad. I was really nervous to play because it was all boys, but my mum forced me to try.’

Beth was joined by another friend, also a girl, and together they played in defence. ’But I wanted to play up to what I play now which is central defence midfield,’ Beth said.

’I was with St Mary’s for two years. During a match someone was watching and said to my mum: "Your daughter should trial for the island team". I went to the trial and thought all the girls were really good - somehow I got in.’

Taking things to the next level, Beth later had a successful trial for Preston FC.

However, due to weekly travel expenses, it was decided she would trial for Blackpool FC and got the good news that she could sign up.

Beth is proud to represent the island in the UK and is thankful to her sponsors’ and mum’s support. She added: ’We do have sponsors, but the funds go so quickly with the travelling.’

The young footballer trains on Wednesdays and Fridays starting at 6.30am with strengthening and conditioning with coach Ben Carling. Football training is straight after school.

She also plays hockey for the Vikings and has recently started boxercise.

She plays for Blackpool about every fortnight.

’When I go through the airport wearing my Blackpool kit I get a lot of people asking if I support them and I say: "I play for them". I feel proud that I’ve got to where I am,’ she said.

Beth said it was great to see the sport becoming more popular across the world.

She said: ’Women are getting more chances and money to play. People are still talking about the Women’s World Cup 2019 in which the USA won. I’m still annoyed that they won and not England!’

Women’s football development officer at the Isle of Man Football Association, Simon Elson, said it’s a positive thing for the island to see such interest from Title IX.

The agency first gave Sarah Wignall, an island footballer, a scholarship with her graduating Barry University in Miami last month.

’For the consultant to come back is an amazing opportunity for the island for the size that it is,’ he said.

’The agency consultant said: "The standard of the girls football here has improved tenfold". This is all down to the coaches in the island who are delivering the session.’

Last year, three girls were signed up to Chester FC from the under 18s island squad and one signed up for the Morecambe Ladies, he said.

’Sponsorship is definitely something the girls will need to be looking at. The association does not provide funding unfortunately.’

Mr Elson said there is a growing interest in women’s football. The association has introduced events like Wildcats walking football for girls aged five to 11 at the NSC.

’Instead of mums hanging around after dropping their daughters off, we thought "why not let them have walking football next door?",’ he said. Sessions run from 4pm to 5pm every Tuesday, are open to all women interested in taking part.