"She's just so cool. Is that her? Is that really her? I didn't think she was that blonde. Even her clothes are cool. Alessia Russo is a footballing Pied Piper and the teenage girls following her down the path from the five-a-side pitches to the full-size one at Haringey's New River Leisure Centre can't contain their excitement. Russo has just watched the final of the Alessia Cup, an evolution of an annual girls' tournament organised by the London-based charity Goals 4 Girls."
"She is signing everything: the new Alessia Cup kits they're wearing, the new Adidas boots, balls, bags, hands, whatever a marker will write on. More than 180 girls between the ages of 12-14 competed from schools all across north and east London. Photograph: Aneesa Dawoojee Russo has come straight from training and stays for as long as possible. She watches the final, engages in a Q&A with the 180 girls, hands out medals and hugs."
Alessia Russo attended the Alessia Cup final, a girls' tournament evolved from an annual competition organised by Goals 4 Girls and staged with the Alessia Russo Foundation and Sky. More than 180 girls aged 12–14 from north and east London competed. Russo signed kits, boots, balls and bags, watched the final, took part in a Q&A, awarded medals and presented the trophy to Chislehurst School for Girls. The event energized attendees as Russo connected with young players, praised their talent and reflected on how engaging with grassroots football brings her back down to earth and highlights the impact elite players can have.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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