HER football potential was first spotted by a primary school dinner lady and now Lauren Allison has won herself a scholarship to study in America.

Next month, Oxford United Ladies striker Lauren moves to the US to study football and bio-medical science at the University of South Alabama after a talent scout saw her play.

But it was a dinner lady at Glory Farm School, in Hendon Place, Bicester, who first realised the 18-year-old had talent.

Miss Allison started playing football when she was six and went on to become the first girl on the school’s team.

She said: “When I was younger I used to get on with the boys better than the girls and I used to like playing football in the playground.

“A dinner lady told my mum and they took me to a training session with the boys. She recognised my talent.

“I had a bit of stick as girls playing football wasn’t well known. The boys on the other team used to snigger, but now it’s different.”

Former Cooper School pupil Miss Allison also played for Highfield Boys FC, before moving to all-female teams including Fulham Girls, Kidlington Girls and most recently Oxford United Ladies.

Earlier this year South Alabama coach Graham Winkworth contacted the Allison family, including mum Donna and dad Peter, to ask if Lauren would be interested in the university’s programme.

Miss Allison, who works at Bicester Village, said: “It was pretty random. I found out they had been watching me.

“The coach flew over, watched a couple of my games and came and met my mum and dad and laid down an offer.

“There was obviously only one answer in my head.

“Girls football in America is absolutely massive, they take it a lot more seriously. It’s just the whole public, they love it.”

Women’s football became popular in the US after the country's women’s team won the World Cup by beating China in 1999.

Once at university, Miss Allison will train twice a day and play matches on Fridays and Sundays. Currently she trains twice a week.

But she is undaunted by the training schedule, she said: “I’m just looking forward to playing football every day.”