STOKE CITY Girls Centre of Excellence players Olivia Fergusson and Emily Horton have received call-ups to the England Women's Under-17 Squad.

It is the first time both Fergusson and Horton have been selected for a national squad at this particular level although it does come quickly on the back of them being included in the England Girls Under-15 Squad last month.

Girls and Ladies Centre Director Richard Carter said: "It is fantastic news on the back of their recent Under-15 call-up and we are all proud of them. To receive a call-up to an older age group so soon after their Under-15 selection clearly shows that they have made a positive impression upon the England Coaching staff since that inclusion.

"They now have two years or so at Under-17 level to really stamp their mark and become established in the squad. Both Olivia and Emily are not the type of players to get ahead of themselves and they are wise enough to know that the real work starts now, as there will be many other players trying to knock them off them spot.

Centre-Forward Fergusson and goalkeeper Horton have both been regular players in this season's Stoke City Girls Under-16 squad and a delighted Carter believes more could follow them into the England set-up in the near future.

He added "Olivia and Emily have proved that as a Centre of Excellence we are certainly moving in the right direction and there are also a lot of other talented players presently at the Centre and the only thing which is really stopping them from knocking harder on the England set-up's door is their mind-set and the need to be more focused.

"If some can do that, I believe they will follow the patterns Olivia and Emily are creating. The mind of a sports-person with true talent in any field is largely the key to failure or success and the quicker some of our players in the girls set-up realise this, the better for them as having the talent for some is not the problem…they already have it!