AN eight year old Thurrock girl is about to become a football sensation thanks to her bravery, football skills and the love and support of her family and the football community. 

The story of Warren Primary school pupil Ella Barber is an inspirational one and – on the day England's women footballers qualified for their first World Cup final – it's an appropriate time to share it through Thurrock Nub News. 

Ella, who lives in Chafford Hundred with dad Alex, mum Kayleigh and younger sisters Daisy and Rosie, began to take an interest in football last April and tried out with a local team. 

Alex takes up the story: "She's a bit of a sensitive child but she loved football and wanted to join in but she found that she was being made fun of by boys of her age, who mocked her by saying that girls couldn't play football. 

"She went quiet, and off the game, and it took us a while to find out why, but eventually she opened up to us about it. 

"We talked to the school and they were supportive and we were able to rekindle her interest in the game and she knew she was supported. 

"At about that time I noticed a post on social media by Gabby Howell who has a huge following. She's a non-League footballer with Dartford but she shared her stories and experiences on Instagram where she has almost quarter of a million followers. 

Gabby Howell

"I contacted her to let her know about Ella and what she had gone through and she got back in touch and has been really supportive, sharing the story on her platform. 

"That's led to other interest and it got me to thinking about writing a book, which I have always wanted to do. 

"Originally it was going to be about girls getting into sport but then I adapted it and based it on Ella's own story. 

"It was going to be called 'Ella Plays Football', but then we were contacted by the charity 'Her Game Too' which tackles sexism and champions women in sport, and they were supportive, so we changed the title to 'Ella Plays Football - Her Game Too'. 

"Last autumn I submitted it to a few publishers and in January it got accepted. 

"It's going to be published in September but you can pre-order it via this link to Amazon." 

A percentage of each sale goes back into grassroots football. 

And Ella's footballing fame has already stretched back to Gibraltar, where the family originate. 

Ella has been invited to Gibraltar where she met with the national women's team and now has the backing of the Gibraltar FA. 

And locally she is looking forward to spending the coming season as part of the Grays Athletic youth section where she will play in the Under Nines. 

"Everything has been amazing and we are so proud of what Ella has achieved and grateful to so many people who have supported her, particularly at Grays Athletic and also their kit providers Pendle, whose kit is used in illustrations in the book. 

"It's been an amazing journey for the family and I'm sure has a long way to go yet," said Alex. 

And the journey will also include little sister Daisy, who already plays in the Grays set-up, and Rosie could make it a trio in the Barber family footballing dynasty. 

Dad Alex is also involved at Grays, having taken his coaching qualifications to help out, and he is already planning on publishing more sporting books – with a sequel to 'Ella Plays Football - Her Game Too' already on the cards.