A teenager from Carlisle has won a scholarship to play football at a college in the USA.

Esther Attwood, from Stanwix, moved to Kansas last month to take up a a place at Cowley College in Arkansas City.

The 19-year old played for Stanwix FC Ladies team in Carlisle before making the journey across the Atlantic.

She said: "I’m having such an amazing time.

"It’s a whole different world out here."

Esther, who plays as a right-winger, attended Stanwix Primary School and Trinity School.

She joined Stanwix FC aged eight and progressed through the different age groups until she reached the Ladies team.

She spoke fondly of the club: "We had such a great time, it went so well.

"[Those who ran the club] were so supportive and encouraging.

"I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t for Stanwix FC."

Her former coach, Paul Mason, said she was a key member of the team:

"She’s really bubbly, positive and enthusiastic. That’ll be one of the key things that we’ll miss because she’s been the sort of main popular person in the group that people have thrived off."

Esther has found football across the pond much more intense.

She said: "It’s just so professional over here. In the UK, I only trained on a Tuesday and played on a Sunday.

"Over here for pre-season we’re training one or two times a day, and it totalled to about four hours for training a day some days, which was crazy."

Her dad, Paul Attwood, was full of praise.

He said: "We are proud of her. It takes a lot of courage to make such a big move."

When asked whether her aim was to become a full-time footballer, Esther said: "That'd be amazing but I just love to play football.

"I thought if I could get a degree and play football at the same time then I’d love to do that, so that’s why I came."