A Talanted young Welsh international footballer has moved a step closer to realizing her life-long ambition to become a professional.

Angharad James, of Llandissilio, has been informed that she will be part of this season’s famous Arsenal Ladies Academy set-up, where she will train every day and continue her academic studies that will kick-off in September.

After a series of successful trials over the summer, she is thrilled to have been chosen to join the best Ladies Football Academy in the UK.

The 16-year-old will attend Oaklands College, in the picturesque city of St Albans, Hertfordshire, and embark on a two-year BTEC National Course in Applied Sports Science.

Angharad will quite literally eat, sleep and drink football, while her progress will be closely monitored as she tackles training at the Arsenal Men’s Training Ground, London Colney and Hertfordshire University.

Her current ambition is to play for the Arsenal Ladies Reserves in the National Reserve League every Sunday.

Angharad has been playing since the age of eight and is indebted to coaches Gerry Rigby, plus her team Manorbier’s Mike Lewis also teacher Meinir Thomas at Ysgol y Preseli have all played influential roles.

Life could not be any sweeter as Angharad who has played for Wales at under-15 and 16 levels - has just been informed that she has been selected for her country at under-17 level and will feature at the end of the month in two internationals against Belgium staged at Swansea.