Denbigh school's delight as Poppy joins Manchester United

Poppy Holt, a pupil at Denbigh's Myddelton College, was selected by the Red Devils from 1,300 triallists this summer.

It’s a remarkable rise for 14-year-old United fan Poppy, from Mold, whose footballing journey had begun long before, playing in the back garden with brother Harry from the age of five.

Now just a few years after her parents, Tim and Lisa, took her and big brother Harry on an Old Trafford stadium Tour, Poppy is a player with the famous club’s junior sides.

Dream move – Poppy Holt has joined Manchester United. Picture: Andrew Donnison (Image: Picture: Andrew Donnison)

She was still at primary school when she impressed on trial with Wrexham and where she moved up the ladder as a goalscoring number 10 in five years with the Racecourse club, winning player of the year awards.

She was then scouted by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) North Region Academy and has gone on to win caps for Wales under-14s.

Poppy, who has dual nationality for Wales and England, was offered places at other Premier League clubs this summer but her heart was set on the Red Devils.

Poppy said: “We started off with over a thousand of us.

“Then after the first trial I received an e-mail to tell me I had got through to the next phase. It was the best email I have ever had.

“It came to the final trial and there were only 11 of us and at the end I was told I had been successful!”

READ MORE: Myddelton College set to host its Christmas market

Myddelton College director of sport and assistant headmaster Mike Pearson said: “Poppy really has done brilliantly – she’s a very talented young footballer and she’s a great role model for the younger girls.

“We have a football academy at the school and she speaks to and encourages the others and is a fantastic example to them.

“At the same time we can make sure she doesn’t miss out when she’s away with United or with Wales as she can keep up with her lessons online.”