Jarrad Branthwaite and James Trafford have made headlines in Cumbria after their call-up for tonight’s England international with Belgium.
But a young Carlisle girl has also had the pleasure of pulling on the Three Lions shirt at an international training camp.
Josie Wright was recently called up to England Under-15s training at Loughborough University and played in an internal game.
Josie first started playing organised football at the age of nine, joining Northbank FC Under-10 Girls and was selected for the Cumberland FA’s Advanced Coaching Centre that season.
Josie then joined Durham Ladies at Under-12, playing there for two seasons before returning to Cumberland mixed football as an Under-14 with Crusaders and the same season helping Northbank Under-14 Girls win the Carlisle Glass Longhorn Youth League, League Cup and Cumberland FA County Cup treble.
Now at Under-15 level, Josie signed for Blackburn Rovers, training in Preston twice a week and playing in the North West JPL League.
Josie also plays for Carlisle Lionesses in the Andrea Buggy Under-16 League in Cumberland.
Last year Josie attended a Future Lionesses Talent ID event in Penrith, hosted by Cumberland FA.
From there Josie was invited to a Regional Talent ID session in Manchester followed by a national event in Coventry.
This season (2023-24) Josie is part of the England Talent Pathway, with regular Regional Talent sessions in Newcastle and North of England events in Sheffield and Nottingham.
She said of her call-up: “I’m honoured to be selected for England. I never ever expected it so when Rovers told me that I was being released from club duties to join the England squad I was amazed and so excited.
“I love football and I can’t wait put the shirt on and play with some of the best players in the country.”
Josie also loves refereeing and is a registered Cumberland FA referee, officiating in the local grassroots league when time allows.
A County FA spokesman said: “Everyone at Cumberland FA wishes Josie well in her football journey, following in the footsteps of current England International Georgia Stanway who also played at Under-10 Level in the Cumbria Girls Centre of Excellence and Blackburn Rovers on her way to professional football.”
