Twelve-year-old Acland Burghley School pupil Scarlett Mitchell scored 26 goals in 26 games

A HAT-TRICK against Southampton in her final game of the season signalled what for many is already the worst kept secret emerging within women’s football: that Scarlett Mitchell is destined for the very top.

The striker from Camden Town enjoyed an unforgettable debut campaign for Chelsea Women’s Academy as she boasted a goal-scoring record that Sam Kerr would be proud of – hitting the back of the net 26 times in 26 games in all competitions.

The 12-year-old’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed by her teammates as she was honoured at a special ceremony at Stamford Bridge earlier this month. To the backdrop of music and a laser light show, the Acland Burghley School pupil was cheered onto the stage to receive the Under-12s players’ player of the year award.

“I was really happy to receive this award, especially as it came from my teammates,” Scarlett told the New Journal. “The season was a tough challenge. Most players were quite physical and we played nine-a-side, which was new for me. But this has helped me become tougher and technically a lot better.”

Scarlett has experienced plenty of “inspirational” moments since joining the Blues, including meeting first-teamers Kerr and Millie Bright, and even getting to train with midfielder Sophie Ingle at the club’s Cobham training centre.

She also got to meet Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, who grew up on the Curnock Street Estate in Camden Town and has gone on to become one of the borough’s most successful exports.
Hoping to follow in their footballing footsteps, Scarlett, who is expected to sign a new 12-month contract with Chelsea in the coming weeks, said: “It was amazing to train with someone like Ingle who has already got to where I want to get to. She is an inspiration.

“It was also really nice to see Emma because she came from the same area as me. She has achieved so much and has a lot more coming.”

A massive Arsenal fan, Scarlett started off her career at Kentish Town FC aged seven playing in a boys’ team. Under the tutelage of head coach Thomas Looney it was clear that she had what it takes to reach the highest echelons of a sport that she loves.

Reflecting on Scarlett’s meteoric rise, Looney said: “I feel very proud and privileged to have coached such a promising young player. For her to win players’ player of the year just shows how well she has settled into the Chelsea team, which I never had any doubts about. She is only going to get better and better as her career progresses.”

Scarlett’s ongoing success also hasn’t come as a surprise for one of her biggest fans: dad Jamie. He has a £50 “novelty bet” at odds of 250/1 that she will play for England by the time she is 25.

Summing up Scarlett’s first season within the youth ranks at a professional club, the proud father said: “She hit the ground running at Chelsea. We didn’t really have a settling down period because she was already scoring a lot of goals. She made friendships really quick and has became one of the most important players at the academy, which is really good to see.”