A PROMISING 12-year-old footballer has shared her experience of playing at Blackpool FC's Emerging Talent Centre.

Centre midfielder Ainsley Cross, who attends Walney School, plays with Blackpool's under-14s side, which recently won a game against Liverpool. 

England Football gives licences to clubs to operate their own girls' emerging talent centres, with Blackpool FC Community Trust being one.

The Premier League put £5.25 million into the centres to create greater access to professional football and 'diversify the talent pool.' They offer high-level training for talented girls in the local area who would normally not have access to this kind of experience. 

The Mail: Ainsley listed England women's squad players as an inspiration, including Askam's Georgia Stanway Ainsley listed England women's squad players as an inspiration, including Askam's Georgia Stanway (Image: Submitted)

There are 73 centres across the country, available for girls aged eight to 16. England Football says that the number of players in all the talent centres will rise from 1,722 to over 4,200 by the end of this season. 

Ainsley first became interested in football when she was six and became involved in the centre after her dad was told about the trials for Blackpool. 

READ MORE: Barrow club aims to inspire young girls to take up football

"She went for trials at Blackpool last year," her mum Sarah said. "She got through after her trial."

When asked about her recent game against Liverpool, Ainsley said: "It went well, we won 2-0. I usually play centre-mid."

The Mail: Ainsley's school and her friends have been 'very supportive'Ainsley's school and her friends have been 'very supportive' (Image: Submitted)

Ainsley has been playing for Blackpool for nearly a year. "She will just carry on," Sarah added. "She's playing Manchester United." 

When asked how she feels before games, Ainsley said 'nervous.' When asked why: "Because you never, never know what's going to happen." 

But when she is on the pitch the nerves go away and she 'gets in the zone', she said.

Both Walney School and her friends there have been 'very supportive.' Some of her friends have watched her play games from the stands. 

Living on Walney, the family has to travel far to get to training sessions on Friday and sometimes even further afield for matches. This does not put off Ainsley, who does 'lots of other football in-between' her training days. 

She also plays for Walney Island and at Lakes Soccer, which offers development programmes for girls and boys in south Cumbria. 

Askam's Georgia Stanway, who has played on the England side for the Euros and the World Cup, is one of Ainsley's inspirations.