After catching the eye of top US universities, a Newark goalkeeper is preparing to jet across the world to follow her dream of professional football.
Olivia Valentine, 18, is getting ready to follow her dreams of being a world-class footballer and is flying out to the USA in August to start university at Eastern Oklahoma State College under a soccer scholarship.
Olivia, a goalkeeper sponsored by IEP for this season at Staveley Miners Welfare club, has dreamed of playing football since she was just ten years old and and her teachers put on a girls team, where she started to play in goal and really enjoyed it.
“In primary a lot of the boys would say that the girls could not play which only fuelled my determination to play and to become better,” Olivia said.
“I love the thrill of the game, getting to dive around and performing those game winning saves.”
She has since then played for Newark Town’s youth team, where she received keeper training, and has played for various clubs including Forest, Chesterfield, Arnold Town, Long Bennington and Basford as well as Staveley, Kiverton and Lincoln City.
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Olivia counts England goalkeeping legends Jordan Pickford and Mary Earps as her inspiration for her dreams, as well as Euros 2025 star Hanna Hampton.
“They have done so much for the England squad and it’s amazing to see them on the big screen doing what they love and showing the world the importance of goalkeepers,” she said.
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“[Hampton] is also such an inspiration with her being a young keeper and overcoming a disability showing we can’t let anything hold us back from our dreams.”
And now she is off to the USA after Steve Tur at Newark Town had suggested the possibility of playing in America, and her parents found scholarship company Starbridge Sports.
She was signed up to Chesterfield Ladies by Marc Rawson, one of the owners in 2024 and the team went to Florida for a week on a tour last year, which cemented the idea for Olivia to go to the US.
After a few video calls with coach and various offers, she has now signed for Eastern Oklahoma where she will be playing and studying for the next two years before completing her degree in Physical Education and Teaching.
“She often plays three games on a weekend as well as for her college Draper Norton in the week, said her proud mum Marie.
“She is a very committed and hard-working young lady and it’s nice to show other young athletes that anything is possible.”
Olivia has credited her parents and coaches as being the wind beneath her wings of following her dream.
“It all comes down the basics of years of work and dedication to the sport,” she said.
“I’ve had many coaches over the years who have supported me and helped me grow to the keeper I am today.
“My parents also play a major part in everything I do. They have always supported me from buying gloves and boots to driving me to all my training and games and supporting me on the sidelines through those highs and lows.”
As for the future, Olivia has dreams of playing professionally and for England one day, but for now is focusing on finishing the current season at the top of the league and winning the cup for my Staveley Miners.
She added: “I just want all young people to know if you want it chase it. Nothing can stop you, if you put in the work for yourself others will notice. No one can hold you back if you want it bad enough.”
