Women’s football stars Kirsty Pealling, Ellen Maggs and Michelle Curley with silverware for the new grassroots competitions named in their honour

THREE pioneers of women’s football have been immortalised in the most fitting tribute of all after having grassroots competitions for girls named in their honour.

Long before the Women’s Super League was drawing in huge crowds and ever-growing media coverage, players like Michelle Curley, Kirsty Pealling and Ellen Maggs were carving out trailblazing careers for both club and country.

And while they might not have the profiles of some of the stars of today, the foundations that they helped to build ensured the sport survived during a time of little to no funding and a sleeping fanbase waiting to be awoken.

Now, recognising all of their achievements both on and off the pitch, the Islington & Camden Schools Football Association have decided to cement the Arsenal and England trio’s lasting legacy closer to home.

Michael MacNeill, who works for Islington Football Development Partnership, has unveiled three seven-a-side prizes “named after local girls that came good within the world of football”.

Acland Burghley beat St Mary Magdalene to capture the Under-12s Girls Michelle Curley Cup, named after the former Arsenal & England footballer

The Under-12s Girls Michelle Curley Cup was won by Acland Burghley School after they over-came St Mary Magdalene Academy last week at the pitches in Market Road.

The star of the show was Burghley’s Ciara Varnava who scored a scintillating hat-trick.

The 11-year-old, who also plays for the Arsenal Academy as a keeper, then showcased her skills at the other end of the pitch when she went in goal and saved a penalty.

Emily Langford and Haneen Meslem were also on target for the Tufnell Park-based school as they sealed a memorable 5-0 win.

After leading her side to glory, Ciara said: “It used to be just the boys playing finals, so it’s good to have the girls now also playing finals like this.”

Far from fixating on her own display, the match-winner added: “It was nice to get to do that [score a hat-trick], but we did work as a team. I think it’s good for the girls and myself to win the cup in our first year.”

St Mary Magdalene, who beat Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School 4-1 to become the first winners of the Under-14s Girls Ellen Maggs Trophy

Michelle, who grew up in Islington and still lives in the borough, won three league titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups during eight successful years with Arsenal before her career was cut short by a knee injury. The left-back also earned 11 caps for England.

After watching the next generation of female footballers battling it out for the Michelle Curley Cup, the 53-year-old said it was an “absolutely amazing” experience – even if Burghley did beat her old primary school to land the prize.

“It was an absolute honour to have the cup named after me,” said Michelle. “All the girls were really respectful and wanted to know all about my career and what I achieved in the game. It was so lovely.

“The girls are more focused than they have ever been and were all so passionate about football and what they want to do in the sport.”

Haverstock were crowned the inaugural winners of the Islington & Camden Schools Football Association Under-16s Girls Kirsty Pealling Shield

Another of the big finals saw St Mary Magdalene, which is based in Holloway, beat Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School to capture the Under-14s Girls Ellen Maggs Trophy. Bella Bainton bagged a brace, while Alice Marco and Summer-Rose Hill also scored in a 4-1 victory.

Ellen joined Arsenal when she was just nine and went on to play for the senior team for four years. She also earned four caps for England.

Praising the pathways that are now available for young girls wanting to play professionally, the 43-year-old, who still lives in the family home that she grew up in in Canonbury, said: “The options that exist now just weren’t available when I was a kid, you couldn’t even have dreamed of them.

“But thanks to a lot of passionate people all pulling in the same direction there are now some great pathways available.

Acland Burghley star Ciara Varnava who scored a hat-trick before going in goal and saving a penalty

“I’m really glad that we are celebrating what women have achieved in football, and very proud to be a part of that.”

The pulsating action also saw Haverstock School in Chalk Farm beat City of London Academy Highbury Grove 2-0 to win the Under-16s Girls Kirsty Pealling Shield thanks to goals from Kawthar El Bergui and Ela Zogi.

Kirsty, who is one of Arsenal’s most decorated players having won more than 30 trophies with the club, said “it was a lovely touch” to have a new shield in her honour.

She has just celebrated her 26th year working as a sports development officer for Camden Council, with a dedicated focus on creating more opportunities for young girls to play football.

“To have a competition named after me alongside two of my former teammates is really nice,” said Kirsty, who also earned 17 England caps in her glittering career.

“At the end of the day it’s about getting more kids playing football, and these competitions will certainly help to do that.”