A local girl with a passion for football has landed her dream job.

Jodie Allard, of Caister, has secured a job as football development officer for the Staffordshire FA and this week started her new role, inspiring others.

The former Caister High School and East Norfolk Sixth Form College student has been mad about sport since she was young.

Her natural talent was discovered by the Norwich City Centre of Excellence staff in a penalty shoot out competition while she was still at Caister Middle School, aged 11.

The youngster, a natural left footed centre back, was at the time playing for the school’s boys’ team.

By-passing the Norwich City Football Club player development centre, Jodie was soon selected for the Centre of Excellence and played for them all over the UK until she was 16. Locally she honed her skills with the Gorleston Girls team.

At high school her enthusiasm for football inspired PE teacher Maxine Carlos to introduce the game into the girls’ curriculum. Jodie, who had by then attained her coaching qualifications, would regularly return to the middle school to pass her skills on to the girls’ team.

After college Jodie secured a place at Loughborough University to study sports and exercise science. Throughout her studies she maintained a place in the Loughborough ladies first team, who were the British Universities & Colleges Sport champions in 2012.

During the summer holidays Jodie coached football in America and last December completed her studies with Masters degree.

She started her new job in Staffordshire on Monday.