Russo recalled: “We were assigned South Korea and we won the tournament. Thirty-two primary schools went head-to-head in the tournament, all representing different countries, and Russo captained East Farleigh’s team to victory at Mote Park in Maidstone. In 2010, aged just 11, she lifted the trophy in the Kent Messenger’s very own mini World Cup contest. “It is nice that we played a tiny role in her career and we are so pleased for her.” Alessia Russo, 11, lifting the ‘World Cup’ after winning a mini tournament in 2010 hosted by the Kent MessengerĪnd it’s not the first time the Lioness has been involved in a World Cup final – well, sort of. It was only when the European Championships came around when Russo became a household name that I was made aware that she played for the club. “I didn’t think much of it and she didn't say she used to play there as a girl. “They set up cones and did some drills on the grass which I was cutting, so they moved the cones a few times. The pair asked to use our facilities which I said was fine. “I then met her and her dad Mario several years later when she was a teenager. England's Alessia Russo and goalkeeper Mary Earps celebrate with the trophy following victory over Germany in the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final at Wembley. Mr Baines said: “She was remarkable from what I have been told. Russo was just five and, in her last game for the club, Russo’s U7 team won the Weald of Kent Charity Cup. We would play every day on the playground with those sponge balls, which you couldn’t get much power with! They were so rubbish!”Ĭhairman at East Farleigh FC, Paul Baines, said he remembers a “girl showing up to play” for one of the new youth teams in 2005/06, set up by Paul Beck after his sons expressed a desire to play for a junior team. “I would also play at my primary school, East Farleigh Primary School. “I just played as much football as I could and wanted to play as soon as I got home. “I just played as much football as I could and wanted to play as soon as I got home…” “But every day after school, I'd rush home, drop my bags, change clothes and go play football there until my mum called me in for dinner. “Where I lived in East Farleigh we were on this little close where there was a park at the end of the street… well you couldn’t really call it a park as it was just a strip of grass that was only about 20m long. “I was too young to play on the boys' team but I would just knock a ball around on the side of the pitch and was waiting until I was old enough to join. Writing about her sporting journey earlier in the tournament, Russo said: “My earliest football memory is going down to my local team, West Farleigh, with my mum, dad and brothers. Picture: West Farleigh Sports Clubīefore her Bearsted stint, she began her career at village level. “I get so nervous before watching the games but after the win against Australia, I think the Lionesses will win 3-1.” Russo, far right on the bottom row, with her junior West Farleigh side which won the Weald of Kent Cup. He said: “I am really happy for her and absolutely over the moon for her. Mr Whitfield will be watching the final at home where he says there will be “pandemonium” if the 24-year-old scores. “When she finished a season with Charlton, if we were involved in any tournaments, she would try and link back in with the girls and play tournaments with us. Russo has scored three goals in the Women's World Cup tournament. But it’s nice because she has maintained her links with the club. The 56-year-old said: “She was with me at Bearsted FC for a season and then she went on to Charlton. The now-retired police officer said that, even at that young age, he could “see that she was going to go all the way”. It was there she joined a boy's team where she was coached by Colin Whitfield, who knew her beforehand through her football-playing older brother Giorgio.
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