From Initial Nerves to Football Fame: How 13-Year-Old Summer Won Top Team Award

When 13-year-old Summer Fitton was asked to move up to 11-a-side football, she felt nervous about making the transition.

"I was just a bit wary of moving up," Summer recalls. "I didn't know if I was big enough as I was smaller than everyone else."

Today, that same girl beams with pride as she holds the Players' Player Award – voted by her teammates at Rochdale AFC Ladies as their most valued player of the season.

Summer's transformation has been made possible through National Lottery funding that supports the club's development programmes. The club received £10,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund for their 'Ladies United' project, which delivers inclusive football sessions and encourages participants to take regular exercise, with some going on to become leaders at the club.

An additional £8,560 from Sport England's Small Grants programme funded their 'Opportunity for Excellence' project, providing advanced training and development opportunities that were previously out of reach for many players.

"It keeps me away from bad crowds and off the streets," Summer explains. "It makes me feel like I'm part of something really good."

Her father, Alan Fitton, has witnessed the remarkable change firsthand. "Her confidence has got a lot better. She's overcome her fears and achieved something – I'm proud of her."

Breaking Down Barriers
When Summer first arrived through the club's Wildcats programme, she was one of the smallest players. Coach Michael Beardsley remembers conversations with her family about whether she could cope.

"We gave them the option to move to a younger age group, but Summer said she didn't want to leave the team," Michael recalls.

That determination, supported by patient coaching, has paid dividends. Her teammates unanimously voted her their Player of the Year.

"Every single vote had Summer either first, second or third," Michael explains. "It speaks volumes about how the other players see her importance to the team."

The club has produced remarkable success, with former player Grace Foy now at Sheffield United Women's Championship team, while multiple players have secured American football scholarships.

National Recognition
Summer, who plays for Rochdale AFC Ladies' under-15s team, will soon receive national attention when she takes centre stage at the 'Big Football Day on the Cobbles' at Coronation Street on 12th July. The National Lottery-powered event brings together 48 young female footballers from grassroots clubs across England and Wales, just one day before the two nations meet in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025.

Featuring former England star Jill Scott, the celebration embodies the spirit of "unity before rivalry" on Britain's most famous street.

Michael Beardsley understands the broader significance of National Lottery funding. "In grassroots football, there isn't money to be made. The amount of expenses – insurance, footballs, kits, equipment, training facilities – it's massive. Funding like this keeps it going. You see so many teams fold because the money isn't there."

Over 30 years, The National Lottery has invested more than £6 billion into grassroots sport across the UK, funding over 90,000 projects. The FA has received over £50 million since 2012, including £2 million for a legacy programme that created over 500,000 new opportunities for women and girls.

"We're about building pathways," says Todd Neilson, the club's Chairman. "The National Lottery's support has been there from the beginning, helping create the foundations that today's success is built upon."

As Summer prepares for her Coronation Street moment, her journey shows what can be achieved when communities come together with proper support.

As Summer puts it with characteristic determination: "I just get stuck in."

The 'Big Football Day on the Cobbles' takes place at Coronation Street on 12th July, featuring 48 young female footballers from grassroots clubs across England and Wales. For more information.