COACHES at a football centre of excellence in Shenfield have been left impressed with their young female students.

Essex's Female Player Development Centre based at Shenfield High School has been putting has been working with a number of women from around the county over the last few months.

With the players aged between seven and 17 able to train with their clubs at the same time as getting advice from the centre, the current crop of footballers have been performing well, leaving their coaches pleased.

Emma Burden, a development officer with Essex FA, said: "Girls get the opportunity to play with talented players from all over the county.

"The standard has been very high and competitive, proving a real challenge for the coaches involved.

"All the girls who have made the step up to centre of excellence football are a credit to their clubs and the PDC programme."