Her journey to representing England began when she was still in primary school
A teenager from Cambridge has represented England by playing in England’s U15 Lionesses. Aleks Liddell-Mickovski played against Germany, Iceland, and Turkey during a week-long camp at St George’s Park, the England team training ground.
The Young Lionesses won two of their three games, with Aleks also training alongside 20 other girls from across the country. She also got to meet some England first-team players and learn about performance analysis, recovery, and national team playing styles.
Aleks’ passion for football started when she was a pupil at Milton Road Primary School, and she joined Chesterton Eagles girls’ team at the age of seven. During her time on the team, they won the County FA Cup at Newmarket. It was over her five years as part of this team that her love for football grew.
Alongside Chesterton Eagles, Aleks also trained for several years with Cambridge United’s Emerging Talent Centre, spent part of a season with Cambridge City’s JPL Warriors team, and played with an U13 team at St Neots Town Football Club. Now a year 10 student at Chesterton Community College, Aleks trains for Aston Villa’s U16 PGA programme, commuting to training four times a week.
Although the highlight of her year has been playing for England, it’s not the first time she has represented the country. In the summer, Aleks captained for England’s U14 basketball team and secured wins in Greece and at a tournament held in Glasgow. She’s also played for the Milton Keynes Breakers club U14 girls, winning the national premier league title.
Earlier this same year, she also represented England Schoolgirls U15s internationally, including at the Bob Docherty football Tournament in Northern Ireland against other home nations. She has also been selected for the prestigious TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) awarded by Sports England to support promising national and international level sportspersons.
She’s also being supported by the University of Cambridge’s Sports Centre who are supporting her with strength training, physio, nutrition, and sports psychology sessions.
In a few years time, Cambridgeshire may have their own Lioness to cheer on.
