STARS from the England women’s football team were dribbling their way around town ahead of their first home qualifier at the County Ground.

Ellen White, Karen Carney and Laura Bassett made a visit to Swindon Academy, Greenmeadow Primary and the children’s ward of the Great Western Hospital as they do their bit to promote women’s football in Swindon.

The England team will be playing their first home qualifier for the European Championships at the County Ground when they host Slovenia on September 22.

Star striker Ellen White said: “It has been a really good day, we started by going to Swindon Academy, which was really nice seeing the kids and we had the chance to play with some of them.

“It was surprising how many of the girls play football, it is good to see.

“The last time we came to play at Swindon was in 2009 and we had a big crowd come to watch that day so if we can have a similar crowd to that it would be brilliant.”

At Swindon Academy, the players took part in a sports class and were impressed with the number of girls who were playing the sport.

A spokesman for Swindon Academy said: “Students were thrilled with the events and relished the opportunity to benefit from the coaching provided by professional players.

“They were totally inspired by the morning and are even more driven now to become successful female football players.”

The players then visited Greenmeadow Primary School where they took part in an assembly and talked about equality.

Greenmeadow headteacher, Diane Pritchard, said: “The assembly linked in well with what the children have been learning about equality all week and after the assembly, some of the girls who are into football got to speak with them.”

The day was finished with the players visiting the children’s ward of the Great Western Hospital where four-year-old Ryan Hollow, who was in with a bad chest won over the hearts of the girls.

Theresa Wyatt, hospital play specialist at the ward, said: “It’s wonderful to have the girls come here today.”

Defender, Laura Bassett, said: “It is a service we like to do it is satisfying to meet the children, and with the introduction of the new super league it is important for us to be accessible.

“Visiting the hospital has been really nice, anything we can do to put a smile on their faces.”