By Joe Weimerskirch, reporter

Playing on the same football pitches as Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney and some of the other English footballing greats is a dream coming true for the girls from the Gillingham FC Academy.

They are looking forward to playing a tournament at St George’s Park, where the stars of the English national team have trained only weeks ago.

The tournament will start on the 5^th of December and the 16 to 18-year-old girls from the Gills will be facing some of the best pro teams in English youth football, including Chelsea, Newcastle and Sunderland.

Craig Stone, the manager of the academy team, said: “The girls are confident, I’m confident and we’ll be going there to win it. I don’t think we should approach it in any other way.”

He added: “It is going to be an experience for them and memories they will never forget, and they are priceless. They won’t forget the fact that they played at St George’s Park which is the same training camp that England use.”

Playing at such a facility might be a once in a lifetime chance for some of the girls, and they are looking forward to playing against the pros.

Faith Cullen-Cooper, centre-back and team captain, said: “We all believe in ourselves at the moment, more than ever and we are still unbeaten, so I believe that going into such a tournament now is the right time for us.”

Hannah Tyler, midfielder, added: “I think it is a great opportunity for everyone and that you are never going to forget. I expect us to put in a solid performance.”