NO EXCUSES Legend Ali tells hopefuls: Everything is now in place to help you succeed

AS womens football continues to grow in this country Alison Nicholl says young girls have now every chance to go far in the game.

“If they’ve got any talent, any flair for the sport, then the opportunities are there now,” says the Northern Ireland U-17s manager.

“When I was growing up we had to pick up tricks when we could, we’d play with the boys and have a kickabout in the park or the playground and try to play as much as we could.

“Grown ups would just think you were a bit of a tomboy, so girls with an interest like me were never properly taught, not like they are now.

“Now we’ve got coaches going into primary schools, we have f antastic clubs in practically every town and there are proper pathways with squads in place to develop talented kids.”

Alison, mum to five year-old Zach, also coaches and plays for North One team Coleraine after joining up with the side in 2002.

Before that, she was linked to Eastend, and became involved with the Northern Ireland seniors four years later. She took the reins at the U-17s in 2012, alongside Noel Mitchell.

“Working with the international side is really rewarding,” says Alison, who also works for Invest NI.

“The girls who come in to play for their country have a fantastic mindset. They’re very focused, they know they’re coming in to wear the green shirt so they’re driven and keen to learn.

“Even with things like nutrition, it’s a step up these days. I’ve always been very health conscious, but the advice the young girls get now is excellent in terms of what to eat and how to train for performance.

“It’s all built into their daily lives, parents get a lot of advice and that focus and knowledge needs to start really early.”

With a full-on job and a family at home, Alison, who was capped for Northern Ireland in 1996, says like other women involved in the sport it takes a huge amount of dedication and time.

“You get a huge buzz out of it,” she says. “In my first year at Coleraine, we did the league and division double so you just want more of that and I’ll admit I’m very competitive.

“Every time I play or put a team out there, I have to win. Women are just as ruthless in sport as men, definitely, that same desire is there.

“The fact so many do it shows that dedication is there, especially as they get older because women playing for their country have jobs and families. They only play part time but they do it for the love of it.”

With the World Cup kicking off in a couple of weeks, Liverpool fan Alison, who is supporting Electric Ireland’s Game Changers campaign, says she can’t wait.

“I’ll definitely be watching,” she says. “It’s great to watch the big games in terms of coaching, set pieces, where people are playing and that sort of thing, as well as for enjoyment”