Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Kirsten studying at the Etihad
KIRSTEN Elrick was a very popular coach with the Letham girls teams — and now she is off to Manchester to further pursue her coaching dreams.
She is at the University College of Football Business and will be situated at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium for some of her studies.
The former Viewlands primary and Perth Academy player said: “I’m studying football business media under the watchful eye of speakers, who include Gabby Logan and Gary Lineker.
“I owe a great deal to the late Ken Drummond who was a massive influence on me. He always encouraged me to go far in football.
Fiona McDonald, the senior girls coach at Letham, commented: “Kirsten is a big loss to us as she was a great help.
“I remember when Kirsten first came to the club.
“We wanted to have a team for nine-year-old girls, so myself, Kim Liddle and Kirsten’s dad Ian started that team up.
“Kirsten was one of our players and that started a 10-year association she had with Letham.
“She has gone on to bigger and better things and we wish her well.
INTERIM head coach Mo Marley has shown confidence in the England Women players who featured in Mark Sampson’s final match after naming her squad to face France in Valenciennes a week tomorrow.
Former team boss Sampson’s sacking was announced the day after England’s 6-0 World Cup qualifying win against Russia, for matters relating to his behaviour in a previous job at Bristol Academy.
Marley has chosen her first Lionesses squad on almost identical lines to the last selection, meaning there is no recall for Chelsea striker Eni Aluko.
Aluko’s accusations of racism, bullying and harassment against Sampson will be back in focus next week at a parliamentary select committee hearing, at which she is due to appear. Sampson strongly denies Aluko’s allegations and has twice been cleared by investigations.
England will be minus goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and striker Ellen White in France due to injury. Defender Laura Bassett will also miss the friendly, having relocated to play i n Australia for Canberra United.
England are seeking a repeat of their success against France at Euro 2017, when a 1-0 victory ended a winless run against Les Bleues that went back to 1974.
Marley will also be in charge for World Cup qualifiers in November against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kazakhstan.
She said: “The squad put in an excellent performance against Russia last month and we want to keep that momentum going against France.
“We know France are excellent and it will be a tough challenge for us.
“It’s a good chance for me to see the players in action against top opposition, especially considering our t wo important home World Cup qualifiers next month.”