A PASSIONATE schoolgirl who has proved her dedication on and off the netball court has been chosen to play for England.

Jodie Gibson, aged 15, of Mersey Drive, Whitefield, who goes to Castlebrook High School, is preparing to represent her country after impressing while playing for the YWCA Bury junior teams.

She will join the squad in the spring to compete in the European Championships at youth level against dozens of other nations in Gibraltar.

Her talent was first spotted while she was playing for her primary school, Mersey Drive against Higher Lane primary, when she was 11. Higher Lane’s coach Roz Jeffreys, who has sadly since died, asked the youngster to go for a trial with YWCA Bury.

She has played there for four-and-a-half years and was recently chosen to take part in a trial for the England team in Bath.

Since joining YWCA, Jodie, who has a brother and a sister, has helped with fundraising activities to keep the club going, packing customers’ bags at supermarkets, collecting raffle prizes and collecting cash from loved ones.

YWCA Bury organiser Jacqui Davis said: “We are all very proud of Jodie not only for her netball skills and wonderful demeanour but also her support with fundraising for the club - again all in her own time.

“It hasn’t always been easy, like most teenagers, there were mornings when Jodie didn’t want to get up to go training or play a netball match in the rain or attend extra training on a school night after a full day’s education but with the support of her family and team members Jodie began to show something special.”

Jodie said: “I enjoy fundraising because the coaches at YWCA have given up their times to develop me as a player, so it’s only fair that I should give up my time to help them.

“When I first started at the club, I could hardly catch a ball, but they have helped me a lot. It’s a really friendly and welcoming club and I love going.

“To be selected for England is a dream come true. It was fantastic news because I thought I would be too young to get picked and that I would have a better chance next year.”

But the keen school pupil has said her study must come first, though she trains and plays netball five days a week.

“It may well be that I have to drop some of my club games as time goes on because of school work. The club and the England team are being really supportive in making sure I’m prepared for my exams which is really good,” said Jodie.

She thanked Roz Jeffreys, Jacqui Davis Leanne Dooley and all the coaches and players at YWCA for helping her with her game.