Onwards and upwards for Amber

Amber Day has already overcome a lot of adversity in her burgeoning football career.

And her story recently attracted the interest of the Premier League website.

Much like James Tarkowski, when he was younger, Amber, 15, recovered from operations on either foot to resume playing, and she now harbours ambitions of representing the Lady Clarets’ first team, and becoming a coach.

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Mum Jo Norwood explained: “Amber has played since she was really young – she was the only girl in the league when she played for Briercliffe Rovers, and also played for her school, Briercliffe Primary. But her feet became sore, and she needed to have both feet operated on.

“She had her feet straightened, near her big toe, and had them done separately, so couldn’t weight-bear for six to eight weeks.

“It was now or never really about deciding to go back into football, and it was scary when she went back.

“She was very concious of her feet, but she overcame all that and has just got on with it.”

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The Unity College student got back into football after taking part in a Premier League Girls Football session run by Burnley FC in the Community.

She is back playing with Burnley Ladies’ Under 15s, and she also enjoys the coaching side of the game.

Amber is often busy four nights of the week, taking in around eight hours of sessions in total, but, as Jo joked: “I’m her taxi driver, but she loves it so it’s worth it!”

She has joined the Burnley FC Youth Board, as well as being part of the Premier League Girls Football Leadership Academy, a programme that challenges young girls to become leaders and role models within the women’s game.

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Jo added: “She has always been enthusiastic about football, and Matt Bee at Burnley FC Ladies, and the Community, have been great with her, as have Unity.

“She has been encouraged to get into coaching, and, it is all helping her become more confident and assertive.”