Dan’s Trust welcomes host of teen talent to its growing list of beneficiaries, including England U17 Women’s Footballer

A female footballer who plays as part of England’s under-17s squad is one of the latest Lancashire teens to become an Ambassador for Dan’s Trust.

Jess Simpson, 17, from Clitheroe, began playing the sport at Little Kickers when she was just four years old and currently plays for both England and Manchester United Women’s Under 21s, racking up 20 hours of training and games each week.

With a £1,000 donation from Dan’s Trust,  rising teen footballing sensation Jess will be able to fund her long distance travel and new football kit more easily.

Jess said: “I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in Sports Science alongside my training to help achieve my goals. I attend a college in Greater Manchester next to my United training ground, rather than a local college, as this means I can fit my education around football practice more easily – so I have to regularly leave my house at six-o-clock in the morning to catch a train and not return home until around 9pm.

Jess, who played football for Lancashire County for four years, dreams of taking her career to the highest level, with her long-term goal to ultimately play for England’s Lionesses.

“I think it’s really important for young girls to see that they can play football and have a career in football and hope by seeing my story that I inspire more girls to follow their dreams,” Jess added.

Alongside Jess Simpson, Dan’s Trust – which was founded in 2012 following the sudden death of local sporting enthusiast Daniel Bagshaw – has also sponsored 2024 Youth Winter Olympic skiing hopeful Dante Vidri, 14-year-old county swimming medal-winner Sadie Wilson and British Ice Skating Championship hopeful, 16-year-old Lola Hesketh.

With donations to seven other talented and skilled teenagers from the area, and three sports clubs and local theatre companies, Dan’s Trust has already donated over £20,000 to support the growth of talent in East Lancashire so far in 2022.

Co-founder and trustee Ian Bagshaw, said: “Our plan for this year was to relaunch Dan’s Trust with a new website and to try to support as many young, talented individuals as possible after the awful impact of Covid-19 and we are well on the way to doing just that, with so many new applications for funding coming our way.

“We’re honoured to be able to help youngsters from East Lancashire further themselves in their specialism and develop their talent, and we are looking forward to assisting Jess, Dante, Sadie, Lola and many others now and in the future.”