Casey Howe from Enniskillen is a young footballer who is certainly making her mark. The 12 year old took up the sport three years ago and her progress has been impressive as she has shone with the various teams she has represented.

Casey joined Ballinamallard as a nine year old and was soon distinguishing herself with a host of outstanding performances before standing out at a Nutty Krust Summer Camp run by Northern Ireland Development Officer, Stephen Erskine, who nominated her for a place in the ‘Search for Star’ event.

“Casey was very impressive,” recalls Stephen. “She was fiercely enthusiastic, competitive and eager to do well. She was a wholehearted participant. I had no hesitation in nominating her for a place in the ‘Search for a Star’ event.” Nearly 2,500 children around Northern Ireland usually attend the annual Nutty Crust Summer Camps and 50 are then chosen to compete for a year-long contract with Adidas in the Search for a Star event. Casey was one of just two girls to make the cut and, in fact, is the only girl to have ever been selected twice, having also been picked this year in the IFA ‘Search for a Star’.

After catching the eye, Casey was selected to join the Boys Excellence Programme, supervised by Erskine. Here the top talent in Northern Ireland is invited to receive Excellence training. Following this she was accepted into the Girls Excellence Programme at the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena.

And Casey was to star for Mid Ulster Ladies Football Club after joining them in May 2013. It wasn’t surprising that she was picked for the club’s U13 team and played a huge part in helping her side win the Concentrix U13 League. Indeed, at the end of the tournament she was awarded the Player of the Week while she was also part of the Mid Ulster side that took part in the Speers Cup in Armagh where she went on to score eight goals in one game and received the Managers’ Player of the Tournament Award.

And the honours continued to role in with the Mid Ulster Ladies Football Club presenting her with the Most Improved Player Cup while at the start of the new year Casey was still in the thick of the action and still catching the eye as she ended up as Mid Ulster Ladies U13s top scorer as they reached the semi-finals of the Futsal League.

The Fermanagh youngster has also starred for her school, captaining the Enniskillen Model School football team to victory in the Fermanagh & Western Schools Indoor 5-A-Side Football tournament in February while she recently again captained the side, this time in an outdoor 7-a-side Fermanagh Schools tournament. Eight schools took part and her team remained unbeaten in their seven games. Casey was awarded Player of the Tournament from the 77 boys and three girls competing.

“I love playing football,” enthuses Casey. “Ever since I started playing I really enjoy it. I want to continue playing and hopefully reach a standard that will enable me to play at the highest level in Northern Ireland ladies football and maybe beyond. I have to thank everyone, especially my mum, dad and brother, who have helped and encouraged me over the past three years. They have all been great. I look forward to heading to Cookstown on Monday nights to Mid Ulster Ladies training and whilst all my team-mates are amazing I have also greatly benefitted from the coaching of Noel Mitchell and Clare Charles. At last year’s awards service I was delighted to get an award and it was totally amazing to get it presented to me by Simone Magill – who as a young girl played for Mid Ulster and who now plays for Everton Ladies. I hope that someday I get the opportunity to play professionally.” Mid Ulster Ladies chairperson Elaine Junk said: “Although Casey is still in her football infancy don’t be surprised if this pleasant young talented girl becomes a well-known household name in Womens Football in the many years ahead. At Mid Ulster Ladies we will always try to provide excellent coaching, facilities and good progression opportunities for all our girls to ensure that we help them to be the best that they can be.”