Bethany joins united

MANCHESTER United have made a brand new signing — Bethany Ward, a 15-year-old pupil at North Chadderton.

A promising central midfielder who lists England stars Kelly Smith and Faye White as her heroes, Bethany survived the cull when the Curzon-based Greater Manchester Centre of Excellence she was associated with merged with the Manchester United foundation, creating the Manchester United FA Centre of Excellence.

With a combined total of more than 40 players in the under-10s, under-12s, under-14s and under-16s age groups, only half made it through and Bethany, from Royton, was one of the fortunate ones.

Training twice a week at the Cliff in Salford under the guidance of elite coaches, Bethany is set to turn out for the under-16s in the new league season which starts with an away game against Cumbria on Saturday, September 5.