AN “INSPIRATIONAL” footballer has revealed how she was able to start playing football at the highest level.

Coleg Menai Sports student Cassia Pike, 17, from Porthmadog recently made her Women’s Super League debut for Liverpool in their 2-0 victory over Bristol City.

Cassia, who came on as a substitute at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes, replaced current England striker Jess Clarke.

She also made her first team debut for Liverpool in the recent FA Women’s Super League Continental Tyres Cup tie at Sunderland.

Cassia, who is currently studying BTEC Level 3 Sport (Development Coaching and Fitness) at Coleg Menai in Bangor, has also been selected to represent Wales Under-19s for the Elite rounds of the UEFA U19 Championships which takes place in Portugal at the beginning of April.

Keen to expand on her footballing experience and to support up-and-coming female footballers, Cassia has now started coaching girls in the under-10s and under-11s categories at Porthmadog FC’s Football Academy.

Cassia said: “I first started playing football for Porthmadog when I was six, and have always enjoyed the teamwork, opportunities and camaraderie it has given me.

“I have been asked the secret to my success. I go to the gym every day to keep myself in top condition; I train at Liverpool twice a week then play a match for them every Sunday. I would say to any budding footballer that there is no reason why they cannot play for a premier league team – you just need total dedication and to really want it more than anything else.

“I have also been lucky to have had the support of my family and to have experienced different management and coaching styles along the way."

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