A STUDENT from Leigh Technology Academy in Dartford has secured a four-year football scholarship in the USA.

Nikki Waterman, 17, was one of only five girls selected from 10,000 hopefuls who applied for the scholarships in the UK.

She started playing girls football when she was just four years of age, joining Cobras JFC at the age of 10.

Waterman won the League Cup twice before progressing to the ladies team at Dartford FC.

She applied online for a scholarship at Firstpoint USA late last year and didn’t hear anything until being invited for an interview and assessment in Hertfordshire.

Waterman received a phone call the following day informing her she had been successful and was offered a four-year contract.

A significant one-off fee had to be found to join the programme, but the Leigh Technology Academy trust fund stepped in to foot the bill, much to the delight of Waterman and her parents.

Leigh Technology Academy’s executive principal, Frank Green, said: “The Academy is delighted to support one of its most successful students to achieve the chance of becoming a professional footballer. We are all delighted for her.”