A goal-scoring schoolgirl has been named as her football team’s player of the season thanks to her dedication and performance on the pitch.

Ellie, a pupil at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls, was given the U13 Outstanding Performer Award by Bristol City Women’s Football Club for the 2015/16 season.

The 13-year-old, who plays midfield, has been in the club for four years and was her team captain this year.

She scored 21 goals across 22 matches during the season.

“They say I have a goal in me every time I’m on the pitch,” Ellie said.

“I knew at the start of the year that I wanted to go for the best player award.

“I won it in my second year with the club and last season I didn’t win anything. I like the sense of achievement you get from doing well.

“You normally have to trial each year to be in the club, but I am three out of 16 girls that won’t have to trial for next year.”

Ellie hopes that women’s and men’s football will soon be given an equal amount of coverage on television and that their wages will be balanced out in the future.

She said: “I’ve loved football all my life – watching it and playing it. I started out playing for a grassroots team when I was in Year 3.

“The England women’s team played at Ashton Court in Bristol and we were ball girls.

“It was a really good experience and it made me think ‘one day I want to be up there in the England team, seeing the ball girls look up to us and remembering I used to do that when I was their age’.”

The Arsenal and Bristol supporter, who lives in Chepstow, often does her homework during breaks at school to ensure she keeps on top of everything around her sporting commitments.

She trains with the football club twice a week and plays a match every Saturday.

Ellie also swims with a club twice a week.

She added: “I know women’s football is going to get bigger.

“My coach says I’m the perfect age and when I’m older and playing for England I’ll be playing at Wembley.

“I would be so happy – I’ve always wanted to be a footballer.”