BMet duo sign Villa contracts
Birmingham Metropolitan College have celebrated a double win - with two of their top Sport Science students signing for Aston Villa Women.
Eighteen-year-old rising football stars, Freya Gregory and Isobel Goodwin will now embark on their journey as professional players for the Women 's Premier League club, after signing life-changing contracts last month.
Freya and Isobel started on the Level 3 sports academy course delivered by BMet 's Sutton Coldfield College and Aston Villa last September.
Based at the club 's elite training ground, Bodymoor Heath, the talented former academy students gained high-level theoretical and practical skills that helped propel them to be the professional players that they are now.
Freya, who typically plays as a winger and has been known as a 'top goal academy scorer ', said: “I am so happy to be now classed as an official professional player.
“What 's even better and most special is the fact that my family and I have supported Aston Villa FC all my life. This all makes me want to work extra hard and achieve great things for the team.
“My experience at BMet and the club has taught me to be more resilient and to strive to be the best that I can be, which are key attributes that will carry me through my career! ”
Isobel, who has gained huge success as a centre forward player, said: “I am really buzzing and so thankful to BMet and the club for helping me get to where I am today.
“My future now looks really bright. I am so looking forward to playing against a variety of great teams and building up my profile on the competitive field.
“I would encourage anyone who also has a desire to work on a professional level within sports to do a BMet sports academy course. ”
The duo 's top-level skills and abilities were sharpened while initially shadowing and gaining invaluable experience from players in Aston Villa Women 's first team at the start of their course.
Six months later they were chosen to play in games as part of the Premier League team.
Richard Steeples, a sport and exercise lecturer at BMet and goalkeeper coach for Aston Villa Women 's first team, added: “It is fantastic news to hear that two of our star players have been able to officially reach a professional standard due to their skills, hard work and determination.
“Both players have successfully combined their footballing abilities with a desire to learn through education, which has all paid off.
“My team and BMet as a whole are excited to hear more about their exciting futures! ”
Pictured: Freya and Isobel