Smith, the Arsenal Ladies and England player, is widely-regarded as one of the best women players in the world while Stacey, captain of Haverhill Rovers girls under 14s, can stake claim to be one of the best for her age in Suffolk.

She has scored well over 200 goals already and netted her first for Suffolk County Schools against Woodbridge Town Academy.

Dad John said: “I’m really proud. Every time a game comes up I get butterflies in my stomach.”

Stacey scored 47 times for Haverhill United boys under 11s, more than 100 for Chalkstone Middle School and currently stands on 101 for Haverhill Rovers Girls under 14s.

She scored in an east versus west Suffolk match that led to her being selected for games against Woodbridge Academy, in which she scored, Hertfordshire and Inner London.

Her next appearance for Suffolk is due to be on Saturday, away to Kent.

Stacey said: “I want to say thanks to Kevin Pinker for being my first coach who started my football, Steve Hull, who is my coach and manager now, and Mr (Tujan) Sari at Chalkstone.”

She was able to sign for Suffolk thanks to a generous donation from Déjà Vu that allowed her to buy training kit, match kit, jacket and the Suffolk bag, as well as help pay for travelling.

derek.bish@haverhillecho.com