A promising teenage footballer secured her place in the senior team after receiving just two hours’ notice.

Olivia Sieradzka, a student at Burford School in Year 12, was summoned to play as goalkeeper for Oxford United Women on Easter Sunday, April 5.

She made her first senior start at Home Park during an encounter with Plymouth Argyle.

Despite the team losing 5-0, the match marked a major milestone after six years progressing through the club’s youth system.

Miss Sieradzka remembered that at age eight, she was playing football in her village with her brother and the boys from her primary school, being the only girl taking part in the after-school club and summer programmes.

She asked her mother if she could join a club, so she signed up for Tower Hill Vixens Under 12 during the 19/20 season, and that was when she started keeping goal.

She later moved to the Oxford United Women’s Regional Talent Centre (RTC) under-13s and has been with the club since.

Last season, at just 15 years old, she was called up to train with the senior side.

She also gained senior match practice through a dual registration with Beaconsfield Town FC, featuring regularly for them.

The club recently introduced a combined training programme, requiring her to leave school early.

She thanked Burford School for working around her football commitments.

The school celebrated her achievement on social media, describing it as a wonderful demonstration of why encouraging girls in athletics matters.

Miss Sieradzka will remain with Oxford United Women’s first team for the 2025/26 season.