Alessia Russo: Arsenal striker returns to take training at former youth club

Alessia Russo has returned to her former football club to take training.

The striker, who now plays for Arsenal, took a training session at Bearsted Football Club on Thursday.

The club is aiming to build a new clubhouse and Astroturf pitch to support the growth of girls' football.

Some of the funding for the project, which is expected to cost more than £1m, will come from the Football Foundation, set up by the government to help girls' teams at grassroots level.

Speaking to BBC South East on her first official engagement back at her old club, Ms Russo said: "The kind of things we want right now are so achievable and should be so standard.

"A changing room for the girls should be a given at any football club, so we understand there is still a way to go but we are trying to do our best for them.

"Hopefully it won't be long before there are loads more girls' teams at this football club - you don't want to miss a superstar."

This was Ms Russo's first return visit to the club and she said "it was great to be back", adding she still speaks to people from the club "on a daily basis".

Some of the girls she trained said seeing her at the club was "motivational", while another said it was "surreal" to see her in person instead of on the television.

Colin Whitfield, Ms Russo's former coach, said it was "absolutely brilliant" to have her back at the club.

Meanwhile, Russo was awarded the freedom of the Borough of Maidstone at a ceremony at the council's headquarters on Thursday.

She said: "Maidstone is my home and always will be so I'm delighted to have been awarded the freedom of the borough.

"I will continue to promote women's football in the area and hopefully I can help and inspire the next generation of Lionesses."

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