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The England Women’s National Team are ready to get back on track as they meet again in Nantwich for the sixth time.
With the inaugural Women’s Amputee World Cup only four months away, the girls are buckling down and training harder than ever.
Player Tayla Page knows the importance of the team sessions at Reaseheath College in the run up to the tournament, as well as putting in the effort every day at home.
“I’ve been really focusing on getting my fitness and stamina up lately and it’s really paying off,” she said.
“I feel like I’m getting stronger and quicker - I’m more prepared now for the future and I’m enjoying that process outside of camps.
“I’m excited to go and just experience the World Cup. Obviously I want to win, but we all know it’s good just to be at those kinds of things and take it all in.
“As a team, we are doing really well and we are gelling together. You can see that when we play matches at training and when we were at the Champions League Fan Festival, you can see that we’re working together and communicating properly.
“I do think we’ve got a good chance of doing well in November.”
The 24 year old has a new drive to perform and represent her country on and off the pitch.
Page, alongside Head Coach Sam Turner, recently spent time at Villa Park with students from North Birmingham Academy as part of an Aston Villa Foundation programme around women empowerment and inclusion in sport.
Here the Year 8 pupils who got the opportunity to interview our outfield player about her story and her sporting lifestyle.
Aston Villa football club foundation
They discovered what makes amputee football so special, as well as learning about all the hard work Page and the team dedicate to the sport each time they take to the pitch.
Page says being in the limelight is not something she is used to yet.
“It was a bit surreal really,” she added.
“You don’t see yourself as being that role model, although everyone keeps saying to me that I am, I still don’t really feel have that in me.
“But to have those kids asking me questions was really cool. It’s about showing women's empowerment and breaking down barriers in disability and that’s what we’re all doing at EAFA.
“Anything is possible and if you put the hard work in then you’re going to get something out of it. We are equal to men and we should be able to do what we want to do in sport.
“So many of the students wanted to have a go on the crutches and realised how hard it is; they were so shocked about what we can do. Once I told them my story, they opened up a bit more and they motivated me to keep doing what I do.
“They were all lovely kids and they inspired me as much as I inspired them.”
Page looks to continue pushing herself as the Women’s World Cup approaches in November, and she cannot wait to get back into the swing of things at the home of amputee football this weekend.
“I always miss not seeing the girls,” said Page.
“We’ve become a tight knit group and it feels like we are a family so it’s always good to be around them.
“Training with them and getting advice from all the coaches is the best, so I really do miss it when we’re away and look forward to being back.”
You can follow all the action from the Women’s National Team training camp on Saturday across our social media channels.
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