Morrison wants to take full advantage of Sunderland programme
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Young footballer Katrena Morrison believes that being part of Sunderland’s Foundation of Light’s girls football Scholarship can help her reach her ultimate goal of becoming a pro footballer.
The former Turriff Academy pupil is enjoying her time in the Sunderland educational programme which gives talented footballers the chance to represent Sunderland AFC and gain nationally-recognised qualifications.
She said: “My dad saw a post on Facebook advertising an open day and I was in fourth year at school.
“I didn’t think about leaving school but when that opportunity came about I thought why not give it a go as it is playing football and education.
“It is really good and I have made loads of good friends.
“Everyone has been so welcoming and good fun.”
Morrison reckons that clocking up 100 appearances for Westdyke has prepared her to deal with the physicality of the game down south.
She added: “Stepping up from under-17s to ladies helped me physically as I would say players are more physical down here than back home.
“I think it gave me a step in the right direction in what it would be like.”
“I want to improve my football skills and still have the education part of it."
The youngster who looks up to Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Utah Royal’s Rachel Corsie eyes a scholarship in America once she completes the course.
She told the Advertiser: “I want to improve my football skills and still have the education part of it.
“Just see where it takes me.
“I’m hoping I can go full time and not bother where as long as I’m playing.
“It is a two-year course and afterwards I want to continue playing football and see about an American scholarship.
“We do education for three hours and football training for two hours each day.
“We represented Sunderland’s Foundation of Light which is a charity but we all wear Sunderland kit which is great.”
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