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She’s queen of King’s

19/ 2/2004

KING'S Junior School have been playing football in the Macclesfield and District Primary Schools' League for over 50 years, but never before have they had a girl play for them - let alone captain the side.

However, combative 10-year-old midfield general Hannah Gradwell now rules the roost for the King's under-10s team, leading out the boys on what she hopes will be the first step to a career in professional women's football.

Are the boys jealous of their new skipper, or even embarrassed? Not a bit of it, each one of them every bit the new man in their attitude to equal opportunities.

They said: "Hannah is definitely one of the best players so why shouldn't she be captain."

They added: "I think it gives us an advantage because they think we are going to be a pushover, then they get tackled by her and know they are in for a real game."

A Manchester United fan, who models herself on all-action England international Paul Scholes, Hannah from Poynton, said: "Women's football is really big in the United States and I hope that in another 10 years it will be just as big here."

King's Junior School Football Coach Gareth Jones said: "Hannah is a very talented and very combative footballer and gains selection purely on merit."