This is the third of three articles we have run celebrating the way in which three young footballers (and a little brother),  have continued to develop their football skills during these trying times. Now we journey north of the border to meet 7 year old Zara Walker.

At just 7 Zara plays for Celtic Women’s Academy U11’s squad, which will give you an idea of just how good she is.  The lovely video above shows Zara’s growth and progression; how she manages to score from such tight angles I’m not quite sure.

Zara has been playing football from the age of 18 months, probably as long as she has been walking, she had always shown an interest in kicking a ball but going to watch Celtic with mum Catherine made her want to play even more.

Zara then started going to a community class at weekends and was the first girl to play in a boys team at Greenock Morton Community Trust.

Her preferred position is striker but she can also play left midfield.

Dad Graham says that Zara has been coping well over lockdown, as a coach himself, he gets Zara out as often as possible, keeping her active and trying out new skills.

Mum Catherine takes videos of Zara when they are out training and at her matches, Zara loves to look back on her goals and it’s a good way for friends and family to see how she is progressing in football, which is astonishingly well.

I can see a very bright future for this young footballer and hope to run follow up articles on her progress.

You can read our other articles about children training in lockdown here and here.