Bolton School footballer Zara Plano was part of the Independent Schools’ Football Association (ISFA) England Under-14 representative squad that beat the Welsh Schools team last month.

The Year 9 pupil in the Girls’ Division recently signed for Manchester City’s Under-19s’ team and performed outstandingly at last month’s U15 Girls’ North Trial at Manchester Grammar to become the first Girls’ Division pupil to be selected for the ISFA girls’ football squad.

She will join a three-day camp at Ardingly College in August that sees the best players from across the country take part in training sessions and matches in the ISFA Regional Representative Final.

At this camp, players will be selected to take part in the final trial match for next season’s ISFA U16 girls’ national representative team.

Zara, who plays in central midfield, was spotted by City Academy coaches who invited her in for a trial at the end of the 2021/22 season.

She went on to sign her first contract in June last year and her season with City’s Junior Academy U14 age group came to an end with the squad visiting San Diego in May.

Zara began playing football at the end of Year 5, aged 10. Prior to that, she had played netball for a few years.

Always a keen sportswoman, she decided to try football with Bolton Lads and Girls’ Club and also plays for a boys’ team, FCCR.

She hopes to enter City’s education programme after senior school and aims to continue her football journey with the Blues, with her sights set on the first team. Another option for her is to play in America in the collegiate system.

Zara’s mum, Kate Plano, said: “Zara was excited to be selected for the national training camp in August and feels it will be a good opportunity to meet and play with girls from across the country.

“She is also focused on her school work and is determined to get good qualifications to give her opportunities outside of football.

“She is a big Man City fan, so playing for her ‘team’ is a real privilege.

“It is a big commitment and Bolton School has been really good in supporting her through the elite athlete programme.”

Zara follows in the footsteps of other recent Bolton School Girls’ Division footballing stars, Anna Phillips and Lizzie Harkness.

Phillips played for Manchester City and England while at school and then went on to study at the University of Oregon, while Harkness played for Everton and England before electing to study at Canisius, which is also in the US.