TWO talented football girls are at the right end of the game’s spectrum after signing for Preston.

Dalton and Barrow Wanderers duo Kasey Knott and Kate McKenna have been snapped up by the Lilywhites after impressing on trial.

The duo are part of the Preston North End Girls set-up, with Walneyite Knott in the under-12s team and Barrovian McKenna the under-11s.

Both play for Dalton Under-12s in the Barrow and District Junior Girls Football League and Barrow Wanderers in the Barrow JFL – and it was a phone call to the latter which led to them having their chance at Preston.

The Lancashire club were calling junior sides about potential talents from the boys ranks to trial with them, but Wanderers instead picked out Knott and McKenna as fine prospects in the girls game, having shone for them in a predominantly boys competition.

“They were recommended by Barrow Wanderers,” said Kasey’s dad, Paul Knott. “Barrow Wanderers were phoned up and asked if they had any kids they could send down to Preston.

“Wanderers asked if they were interested in girls as well, because they had a couple of good ones, and it snowballed from there.

“The two girls and the parents tipped up and had trials.

“Kate was signed on after a night’s training to the under-11s, but Kasey had to keep going back on trial before they signed her up.”

Both girls have now made their Preston debut, with Knott featuring against Burnley and McKenna playing in four matches, including games against Burnley and Wigan Athletic.

The pair, who are also part of the new Barrow AFC Girls Performance Centre, have found their versatility tested at North End, moving away from their usual positions to show differing skills.

McKenna, who has just turned 11, is normally a right midfielder, but has also been used on the left wing so far, while Knott, also 11, is a right-sided player who has had to show her skills at left-back.

Ian McKenna, Kate’s dad, has been thrilled with her progress, and said: “It’s fantastic to be signed by Preston. She went down for a trial and we just let her get on with it and mix in.

“She was the odd one out, because the other girls from Preston had been together for a year.

“At the end of the session, the coach came over and we asked how she had done. He said she was a class player and he wanted to sign her there and then.

“It was a bit of a shock at first. The first thing we wanted to make sure was that she could still play locally – I wouldn’t want her to sign for a team and not be able to play for Dalton or Barrow Wanderers.

“We’re more interested that she is able to play plenty of football locally.

“She was over the moon and wanted to sign up.”

Paul Knott added of Kasey: “She made her debut against Burnley and she scored. She should have played other games after that, but they were cancelled with the weather and the opposition having injuries.

“She was training with them for eight or nine weeks before she was signed on.

“They’re quite strict about how many girls they will take on. A lot of clubs will pile them all in, but Preston only like to run with a squad of about 14 or 15.

“Essentially, she has had to keep working away and earn her place in the squad.

“At Preston, she doesn’t have a set position. At that age, the whole idea is to skill them up in every position, so they interchange them all the time.

“She’s done just as well in the positions, and the plan is to multi-skill them at a younger age, so they don’t get stuck in one position.”

Walney School pupil Knott and Newbarns Primary School’s McKenna will continue to play for both Dalton and Barrow Wanderers while at Preston.

Paul Knott was thrilled to see how his daughter has progressed in the game, and said: “She started playing three years ago at Dalton.

“She was always into dancing and a friend from dancing asked her to go along and play with her. We took her up and it just snowballed.

“Everyone kept telling us how good she was, but we were saying ‘yeah, yeah’ – you don’t want to be big-headed as a parent. But she was starting to stand out and it has gone from there.

“We’re really proud of her. She has achieved a lot in such a short time.

“I’m amazed at how quickly she has developed, but the combination of the coaching from Dalton, Barrow Wanderers and Barrow AFC, there is some fantastic training and she just sucks it up like a sponge.”