STUDENTS at a Bradford secondary school were treated to a visit from a fellow Bradfordian who was crowned as Women’s Championship Player of the Year.

Molly-Mae Sharpe, who started playing for Crystal Palace this season, came to speak to female students at Carlton Bolling School about the possibilities of pursuing sports as a career.

The professional football player delivered a presentation to the students, speaking about growing up in Bradford, before a football masterclass session.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: one of the students presented with a Crystal Palace shirt by Molly one of the students presented with a Crystal Palace shirt by Molly

Students were engaged and interested in the star’s career path and had plenty of questions to ask.

Molly said: “There’s lots of talent and potential in this group and if they continue to practise hard, they could go on and have a good football career.

“You have to be resilient, and I know that’s one of the school words, but you have to keep going and trying even when you don’t succeed.

“The girls had plenty of questions and they were really engaged.”

Carlton Bolling Schools works hard to ensure that children are shown positive role models who come from Bradford to show them what they can achieve.

Earlier this year, students took part in a week of football sessions as part of Barclay’s Partnership with the FA.

Coaching sessions were held, and girls were given the opportunity to play football.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Molly giving a presentation to students Molly giving a presentation to students

Tara Kirby, a PE teacher at the school, said: “We just want to get the girls involved in as many sports as possible and field teams in competitions.

“Their confidence has developed and that’s what we want to see. We want to get them in local teams, outside of school.

“We’ve seen girls show more interest in sport and becoming more involved.”

Molly’s school visit highlighted the work the school is doing to show students those barriers and limitations are made to overcome.

The area surrounding the school is one of the most deprived areas in all of Bradford and England.

Head Teacher Mohammed Azum said: “Our school motto uses the words, resilience, ambition, and respect and that’s what we want to give to our students.

“We want to inspire our students and show them that they can break through the glass ceiling.

“Raising the profile of girls in sport is something we are really focussing on, to help build the girls’ confidence around sports and in general.

“We want to present the students with as many opportunities as possible with as many professional sporting people from the area.”