Goalden girl Kelly makes mark on national stage

A FOOTBALLING teacher from St Neots has been making her mark on the national football stage.

Kelly Bingham, of St Neots Community College, was part of the Watford Ladies team that lifted the Futsal 5s title at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on July 5.

The pacy midfielder netted twice in the final to give Watford Ladies a 3-1 win over Leeds Met Carnegie and making her the tournament's joint-top goalscorer.

Bingham's 14 goals throughout the competition ensured that Watford went one better than their runners-up spot last year.

Bingham combines her day-job of teaching PE and English with a schedule that sees her travelling to Harrow several evenings a week to train with the Premier League club.

"It can be difficult trying to balance the training and playing with my commitments at school," said Bingham

"Because of where we train during the week, it takes a lot of time, so it is hard work.

"The kids are very supportive, but I think at times they don't believe me. Sometimes, if they ask or if I need them to calm down in class, I show them clips of me playing."

Bingham has previously played for Huntingdon Town Ladies, before making the move to Bedford, where she spent nearly eight years. She then made the move to Watford after impressing coaches at an open trial, and is in her second season with the club.

"I was playing at county level, and people had been telling me for years that I could make it at a higher level. I finally thought I should give it a go, and Watford signed me," she said.

Since making the step up, Bingham has enjoyed continued success with Watford Ladies. As well as playing in the women's Premier League, Watford Ladies scooped the Umbro 5s tournament at Wembley at the end of June.

"Getting the chance to play and win at Wembley was a highlight," said Bingham. "Walking up those famous steps to receive the trophy was pretty cool.