From playing with the boys to fulfilling a WSL dream

From playing with the boys to fulfilling a WSL dreamImage caption, Molly Stroud is hoping she can achieve her dreams of being a professional footballerByAndy Birkett, BBC South West and Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport EnglandPublished1 hour ago"She can certainly play in the WSL easy, if not Champions League," says football coach Dave Leonard of Molly Stroud.The 16-year-old from Plymouth is joining Manchester City's academy on a two-year deal.She is set to swap playing with the boys in the Devon Under-16 league to rubbing shoulders with some of the world's best at the reigning WSL and Women's FA Cup champions."It just makes me think that my hard work and dedication's paid off," says Stroud, who was scouted while playing for Wales Under-16s after getting her first call-up last August."Living down here we don't get as many opportunities or as much exposure as you would up there. So the fact that I've got the opportunity to move up there, it's just fantastic really."Stroud, a centre-back, has been playing with the boys since she was in primary school, and feels it is one of the big reasons why her game has developed so much."They do tower over me now, but when I was 12 years old I think I was the tallest in the group," she jokes."I've played boys' football ever since I was about 10 years old, really. It's all I've ever known."I just feel like it's a good physical challenge. When I was younger I was more dominating, but then as I've got older they've shot up and it's more of a challenge for me."I definitely think that I can still cope with it on the technical ability side, but I feel like this season was my last season with the boys, which is a bit bittersweet after doing it for quite a while now."Image source, Brett StroudImage caption, Molly Stroud has agreed a two-year academy deal with Manchester CityAs well as playing club football, Stroud...