THREE teenage athletes will lead a new mentoring and development programme.
England and Sunderland footballer Lillie Quinlivan Coulson, of Wylam, Ponteland's Lucy Dodd - an England badminton champion - and polocrosse player Millie Dacosta Evans, from Whitfield, will all share their expertise and experience with peers at Dame Allan's Schools.
The sportswomen will guide and support younger pupils already playing higher-level sports to juggle their training, competitions and matches with school life.
The programme is being run by British champion para-triathlete and geography teacher Michael Sailsbury, who is also the assistant head of sixth form at the school. It will also be supported by Newcastle Eagles Academy basketballer Nicholas Archbold.
Fifteen-year-old Lillie, who plays for Sunderland RTC u16s and the ISFA National u18 squad, and was selected onto the FA’s England Women u16 team, said she hopes to add value to the journey of other young athletes through the programme.
“Playing elite-level football comes with its highs and its challenges; being a mentor will allow me to share my own experience of balancing education with sport, while also fitting in rest and recovery and time with family and friends,” she said.
England junior badminton player Lucy, in Year 11, trains up to 20 hours a week around her GCSE work. She recently celebrated two international tournament wins and took gold at the mixed u17 national championship.
She explained: “Encouragement from older, more experienced players was influential when I started playing badminton.
"I am keen that younger pupils can learn from anything I have done - mistakes included.
"It’s important to have peers to talk with, to make the best decisions and be fully informed.”
Millie, who has represented England in the junior Four Nations polocrosse tournament and aspires to be on the World Cup team, is in Year 12.
She said: “In higher level sport, you can’t wait until after school to make the commitment, you must find a way to keep both going or you will be left behind; finding the right balance is key.
“I’m happy to mentor younger pupils who are beginning to develop the skills they need to balance school and their sporting passions.”
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