Josie Wright from Carlisle was recently called up to England U15 training camp at Loughborough University. During the camp, Josie pulled on the Three Lions shirt, playing in an internal training game!

Josie first started playing organised football at the age of 9, joining Northbank FC Under 10 Girls and was selected for the Cumberland FAs Advanced Coaching Centre that season.

Josie then joined Durham Ladies at Under 12, playing there for two seasons before returning to Cumberland mixed football as an Under 14 with Crusaders and the same season helping Northbank Under 14 Girls win the Carlisle Glass Longhorn Youth League, League Cup and Cumberland FA County Cup treble. 

Now at Under 15 level, Josie signed for Blackburn Rovers, training in Preston twice a week and playing in the North West JPL League. Josie also plays for Carlisle Lionesses in the Andrea Buggy Under 16 League in Cumberland.

In 2023, Josie attended a Future Lionesses Talent ID event in Penrith, hosted by Cumberland FA. From here Josie was invited to a Regional Talent ID session in Manchester followed by a national event in Coventry. This season (2023-24) Josie is part of the England Talent Pathway, with regular Regional Talent sessions in Newcastle and North of England events in Sheffield and Nottingham.

We asked Josie for her thoughts on her call up:

“I’m honoured to be selected for England. I never ever expected it so when Rovers told me that I was being released from club duties to join the England squad I was amazed and so excited. I love football and I can’t wait put the shirt on and play with some of the best players in the country.”

Josie also loves refereeing and is a registered Cumberland FA Referee, officiating in the local grassroots league when time allows. Josie is a fantastic role model for young players and enjoys refereeing in the Girls League where she can offer encouragement and advice to those players on the same pathway.

With two Cumberland players (Jarrad Branthwaite and James Trafford) getting their first call-ups to the senior England Men’s squad, it is fantastic to see Josie getting international recognition in an exciting time for the Girls and Women’s game! 

Everyone at Cumberland FA wishes Josie well in her football journey, following in the footsteps of current England International Georgia Stanway who also played at Under 10 Level in the Cumbria Girls Centre of Excellence and Blackburn Rovers on her way to professional football!