Sleaford student returns to Nottingham Forest Ladies

Frankie, who completed her A-levels at Carre’s Grammar School in the summer, will play in the The FA Women’s National League – the third tier of the national women’s game – this season with Forest’s first team.

The 18-year-old made her debut as a second-half substitute against Sheffield FC Ladies and earned a starting place for the following match at Guiseley.

Other teams in the league include Sunderland, Stoke City, Blackburn, Derby County, and Doncaster Belles.

Frankie, who played youth football for Sleaford Town Girls, left Forest at the end of the 2016/17 season to play for Loughborough Foxes and Nettleham Ladies, but re-signed for the Reds as she began a sports science degree across the city at Nottingham Trent University.

“I got an email out of the blue from the manager Graham Abercrombie asking if I would go over and train with the first team for a couple of sessions, and at the end of the first session he told me he wanted to sign me,” she said.

“The squad is a mix of young and experienced players which is great for the future, and Forest Ladies are working closely now with the men’s club.

As I’m now studying at Nottingham Trent University it’s all fitted together very well.”

The midfielder could face her first international opponents at the end of October when Forest are due to host Jamaican national women’s team, the Reggae Girls, in a friendly at the City Ground.

“It will be a great experience and we’re expecting a large crowd which I’m really looking forward to,” she added.