Zara Plano, a Year 9 pupil in the Girls’ Division of Bolton School, who recently signed for Manchester City’s U19s’ team, is all set to play for England against Wales in the first Independent Schools’ Football Association (ISFA) U14 girls’ international. Zara performed outstandingly at last month's U15 Girls’ North Trial at Manchester Grammar and has become the first Girls’ Division pupil to be selected for the ISFA girls’ football squad. She will join a 3-day camp at Ardingly College in August that sees the best players from across the country take part in training sessions and matches in the ISFA Regional Representative Final. At this camp, players will be selected to take part in the final trial match for next season’s ISFA U16 girls’ national representative team. She was also selected for ISFA’s first ever U14 girls’ international, against Wales on 3rd June.
Zara, who plays in central midfield, was spotted by Man City after they watched her play. The academy coaches invited her in for a trial at the end of the 2021-22 season and Zara went on to sign her first contract in June last year. Her season with City’s Junior Academy U14 age group will come to an end with the squad visiting San Diego at the end of this month. Clearly Zara has enjoyed an outstanding 2022-23 season, having just signed for the U19 squad for next season.
Zara began playing football at the end of Year 5, aged 10. Prior to that, she had played netball for a few years. Always a keen sportswoman, she decided to try football with Bolton Lads and Girls’ Club. She also plays for a boys’ team, FCCR. Zara hopes to enter Man City’s education programme after Senior school and aims to continue her football journey with City, with her sights set on the first team. Another option for her is to play in America in the collegiate system.
Zara’s mum, Kate Plano, said: ‘Zara was excited to be selected for the national training camp in August and feels it will be a good opportunity to meet and play with girls from across the country. She is also focused on her school work and is determined to get good qualifications to give her opportunities outside of football. She is a big Man City fan, so playing for her “team” is a real privilege. It is a big commitment and Bolton School has been really good in supporting her through the elite athlete programme.’
Zara follows in the footsteps of other recent Bolton School Girls’ Division footballing stars, Anna Phillips and Lizzie Harkness. Anna played for Man City and England whilst at school and then went onto study at the University of Oregon. Lizzie played for Everton and England before electing to study at Canisius, which is also in the US.
