At just 18 years old, Paige Needham has faced her fair share of challenges in the world of football, but her passion and determination have never wavered. As a winger, Paige’s journey has been one of persistence, navigating the difficulties of finding local clubs to play for as a girl in an environment where opportunities can often be limited. Despite the setbacks, Paige’s story is a shining example of resilience, and her recent experience with UK Football Trials has opened new doors for her footballing future. 

Growing up, Paige’s path in football wasn’t easy. “Being a girl has made it more difficult finding local clubs to play for,” she explains. Many of the teams she found folded due to not having enough players, forcing her to move from club to club. But in January of 2024, things began to turn around for Paige when she found a team that provided the right environment for her development. “I’ve developed a lot since then and moved to a higher club,” she said, reflecting on how much progress she has made in just a short time. 

Paige came across UK Football Trials, seeing it as an opportunity to showcase her talent on a larger stage. She attended an all-boys trial in fter the girls’ trial was unfortunately cancelled. It was an intense experience, but Paige was determined to prove herself, even in the face of stiff competition. “A few weeks later, I found out I had been scouted for a team in Birmingham,” she said with pride. “It felt great being noticed out of all the boys there.” 

For Paige, being scouted after the trial was an important validation of her abilities. “When I got told I had been scouted, I was thrilled,” she recalls. “Since then, I’ve been in constant contact with the scout and am waiting for him to attend one of my club games.” The prospect of being watched by a scout has only fuelled her determination to keep improving, and she’s excited about what the future holds. 

The experience of trialing with boys was a unique challenge for Paige, but it was also an opportunity to push herself even harder. “From my trial, I learned a lot, such as being able to focus on my first touch, vision, and scanning,” Paige explains. “I think trialing with the boys gave me a different perspective while I play football.” The higher level of competition pushed her to adapt and enhance her game in ways she hadn’t experienced before. “The level and ability were exactly what I expected. I knew it would be challenging, especially being with the boys,” she added. 

Paige’s decision to attend UK Football Trials was driven by her dream of playing professionally. “My all-time dream is to play professionally,” she says. “I was looking online one day at ways to gain trials, and this was the first and best place for me to gain a chance.” The experience of being part of UK Football Trials left a lasting impression on her, particularly with the quality of coaching and the structured drills. “I would definitely recommend UK Football Trials to other players because they put you through your paces in a way that gets the best out of you,” she shares. “The drills and coaches were amazing, and it was such a good experience.” 

Paige is now eagerly awaiting the next step in her football journey. The scout who spotted her at the trial is planning to attend one of her club games soon, and from there, she hopes to receive feedback and potentially take her game to the next level. “I’m currently waiting for the scout to attend one of my games to create a scout report and go from there,” she says, full of optimism for the future. 

Paige’s story is one of perseverance and passion, demonstrating that even in the face of challenges, there are always opportunities to grow and succeed. We congratulate Paige on her achievements so far and are excited to follow her journey as she continues to break boundaries and chase her dream of playing professional football.