Football crazy Lillie Lawson, 8, signs for Blackburn Rovers (From This Is Lancashire)

Football crazy Lillie Lawson, 8, signs for Blackburn Rovers

11:30am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By Neil Docking, Reporter

FOOTBALL crazy Lillie Lawson has signed for Blackburn Rovers – after the eight-year-old scored 70 goals in just 14 games.

Lillie, a big fan of the film Bend It Like Beckham, is setting her sights on becoming a professional footballer after racking up an incredible average of a goal every eight minutes this season.

And her achievement is all the more impressive as she only started playing for her local team in March.

Lillie’s dad Paul Lawson said his daughter was inspired to take up the game after watching her elder brother Paul, 14, in action.

The 37-year-old said: “My lad was playing football and when his team finished one day Lillie said to me ‘can we try and get me a game daddy?’ “We put a lot of fliers out to local schools and teams and went from there.”

Lillie now plays for Cleckheaton Juniors under-eights girls and mixed sides, coached by her dad.

He said: “She got 12 goals in her first three games, so we had a look online for trials and got in touch with the FA.

“I spotted an advert for a trial at Rovers so I took Lillie along.

“She loves it and I’m very proud of her.”

Rovers’ coaches were so impressed that they offered Lillie a six-week trial, which soon turned into a year-long contract.

Lillie and Paul now make the hour-long journey from their home in West Yorkshire to Ewood Park every Monday, so Lillie can attend training sessions at the Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre.

Coach Michael Whitworth believes Lillie has all the skills needed to make it to the very top – and the attitude to match her prodigious talent.

He said: “She is very good. Her general all-round ability is of a good standard.

“She probably lives the furthest away from the centre but she is usually the first one there.

Lillie will turn out for the under-11s side this summer.