Lillie's a Premier League star player! (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Lillie's a Premier League star player!

10:00pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Football By Sally Clifford

Lillie Lawson’s soccer hero is David Beckham.

And now the eight-year-old soccer marvel from Cleckheaton is hoping to follow in her idol’s footsteps by signing for a Premier League club.

Lillie, whose favourite movie is Bend It Like Beckham, is training at Blackburn Rovers’ Centre of Excellence for Girls and is expected to sign for the club in April.

Since kicking a ball for the first time in March when she joined the junior football team her father, Paul, set up for girls, Lillie has scored 71 goals in 14 games.

Proud dad Paul said: “She got four goals in her first game.”

Impressed by his daughter’s prowess on the pitch, Paul contacted some of the country’s Premier League clubs.

“We knew about boys’ trials but we didn’t know about girls’ trials so I got in touch with the FA,” explains Paul.

“I took her to Manchester United – they said they would sign her in six weeks but Blackburn Rovers wanted her after the third week.”

Unfortuately, when Lillie signs for the club in April, she won’t be able to play for Cleckheaton Juniors.

“I am really chuffed but I’d be a bit gutted because she can’t play for me,” Paul joked.