Footballers Score £500 Scholarships

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Leanne Robinson and Jessica Bate both play for West Bromwich Albion's Ladies. As amateurs they receive no funding to follow their sporting passion, so they applied to the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester's Scholarship Panel for assistance in meeting the cost of subscriptions and travel expenses.

Leanne, from Sutton Coldfield, and Jessica, from Stourbridge, said they were delighted to each receive £500 from the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½.

"This will be a massive help to us in pursuing our love of football and playing for West Brom," said 18-year-old Leanne, who is in the first year of a PE and Sports Coaching Science degree at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½.

"I am now in my ninth season playing for West Brom and still loving it. It's a great club to play for and we've been doing really well of late."

Jessica, a first year Sport and Exercise Science student, has been playing for the club for four seasons.

"I've always been really sporty," said the 18-year-old. "To get the chance to play for West Brom was fantastic and I'm really enjoying it."

"This scholarship is a real welcome boost," she added. "We don't get paid to play, in fact we have to pay our own subs, so any extra funding is a fantastic help."

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ awards scholarships of up to £1,000 towards voluntary work or activities, to pursue a particular interest, ie music or arts, or towards course-related activities.