BLUE is now the colour for Elle Saunders after winning a place at the Chelsea FC Academy.

The 17-year-old Weymouth ace went for trials with the London outfit with fellow Terra Harriet Freeman and recently found out she has been accepted.

Commenting on the prospect, the teenager told Echosport: “One of my Weymouth team-mates, Philippa Holden, already plays for them, so Harriet and I decided to go up to the trials to see what the standard of football was like.

“We took part in a few trial games but I never thought I would get in.

“I have been playing football at Weymouth since I was 10 so it’s all very exciting.

“Now I have got a place, I have to move up there and attend a college where I will do a BTEC in sport.

“We will train three times a week and just like Philippa, when available, I will be able to come home at the weekends and continue playing for Weymouth.

“Chelsea Academy also play in their own league, which includes sides like Reading, so it should be a great experience.”

Weymouth Ladies’ manager Tim Davis is delighted for Saunders. He added: “It’s fantastic news for Elle.

“She is the second girl we have had now that has won a place there and it will do her the world of good as long as she can get the money together to go.

“Over the years she has done ever so well. She has come up right the way through all the youth teams and this season fought her way into the first team from the reserves.

“It also shows just what can be achieved by some of these girls and the fact Chelsea release them at the weekends enables the likes of Elle and Philippa to come back and continue playing for us in the South West Premier, which is fantastic.

“I am actually in talks at the moment with another girl from Chelsea about the prospect of travelling down with Philippa to play for us next season, so it is a great link-up all-round.”

Saunders is appealing for sponsors to help her fund the move to Chelsea. Anyone interested can contact her on 781187 or email her at tonyboy@supanet.com