GERRINGONG teenager Chelsea Ford will make the swap from Breaker to Patriot as she seeks to take the next step in her footballing career in the US.
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Gerringong Breakers junior Ford, 18, travels to America this week on a two-year scholarship.
Ford began playing the sport at age five, and has represented Kiama High School, Southern Branch and NSW at junior level.
The centre midfielder has already scored 11 goals this season and racked up 12 assists, her pin-point passing game and movement off the ball a key factor in the success of Gerringong's ladies first grade team in the Shoalhaven District Football Association competition.
This team took out the championship and premiership in 2015, with Ford cleaning up at the awards night by winning SDFA Rookie of the Year and the grand final Best on Ground medal.
Now, the Gerringong resident has been selected to travel to the US on a college football scholarship with Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Virginia.
Ford was selected following a previous trial process involving Football NSW.
“It'll be tough (living overseas),” she laughed.
“It'll be hard to get used to, but it will only build my confidence in leaving home at such a young age.
“It's a bit of a journey, so it'll be good.
“Mum's trying to hold it together just so I feel okay... She'll struggle, but she's happy for me to go and she's excited about what's to come for me.”
The program will feature Ford undergoing an intense eight-week preseason training regime and then a full season.
This will include playing up to three games a week as part of the Virginia and North Carolina conference league of the National Collegiate Athletic Association competition.
The Patriots kick off the season with an away match at Hollins University on August 23 in the first of a five-match road swing.
To close out the season, the team travels to Louisburg College on October 23.
“The furthest we travel is about ten hours I think for one game,” Ford said.
“So we're always on the road, and when we're on the road we'll probably spend a few days down in that location, have a look around and come back.
“We've got about seven Australian girls (in the college's 25-player squad), and the rest are from around Virginia and interstate.”
There is also the potential for the scholarship to lead to greater things on the pitch.
“My best friend actually did it last year, and she said that once you win your conference, you go to state playoffs and that's when the bigger scouts from like the English leagues come over,” she said.
“It's a good stepping stone.”
Ford said another career goal was joining a W-League team in future years.
“Special mention to my coach Andy McNeil who has done an incredible job to get me to where I am today with training and all his incredible football knowledge,” she said.
