A TEENAGE footballer who is a carer for her father is hoping to hit the back of the net in America after being offered a scholarship.

Nicole Campbell is aiming to swap Port Seton for Kansas and the 17-year-old is looking to raise nearly £9,000 for the scholarship, which would see her study at Northwest Technical College while, hopefully, starring for the college’s football team.

Nicole was looking forward to the experience, which will see her head out to Kansas in the second week of July.

She said: “I think it has hit home now because I have actually left school. That is the only thing I can really focus on, apart from my exams.”

At home, Nicole helps care for her father, who needs continuous support.

As she is a young adult carer, she has been able to gain support from the Bridges Project, a Musselburgh-based charity, and her support worker has been busy helping her with her applications for financial support.

With the help of the John Watson Trust, The Red House Home Trust and Musselburgh Rotary Club, Nicole has raised an additional £2,800.

She plans to work on campus when she gets to Kansas in order to sustain herself financially for the last two years but needs further financial support to pay for the first year of her scholarship.

Nicole will study sports science, maths and English at the college, as well as being part of the football team.

The teenager started playing football with her older brother Scott when she was just seven.

She said: “My brother used to always take me to the pitch across the road from our house.”

Nicole, of Port Seton’s Park View West, joined Hibs and played for their under-11 and under-13 sides, having started out at Seton Community Football Club. She won the Kim Little League in 2013 before scoring a double in the League Cup final the following year.

She then moved to Hearts before signing with Hutchison Vale’s under-17s team.

The move to Kansas comes two years after she caught the eye of scouts at Future Pro USA.

A trial was held at Ainslie Park in Edinburgh, where Nicole, who works at Ocean Side East and Seton Deli, impressed.

She said: “The first hour and a half was just a training session, with drills and different types of ball work.

“Then, they did a bit of shooting and then a game, which was split into three 20-minute sessions.”

Nicole added: “Men’s and women’s football is equal over there [in the USA].

“You would not get many people turning up to watch a women’s game here but it is getting better.”

To support Nicole, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nicole-campbell-futureprousa