Alessia Russo visits former club Bearsted and tells how life has changed since England’s European Championship triumph

Arsenal and England star Alessia Russo is backing her old grassroots club’s ambitious plans for the future.

Russo, 25, returned to Bearsted FC in Maidstone yesterday as they launched a drive to grow girls’ football and transform facilities at their Honey Lane home ground.

Chairman Jamie Houston spoke about his vision to increase the number of girls’ teams, while over the next five years they want to install a 3G pitch and build a new clubhouse to cater for them.

Russo, just back from international duty, listened to the club’s plans before heading outside to take questions from youngsters and watch them train.

The striker - later presented with the Freedom of Maidstone in a Town Hall ceremony - was reunited with a host of familiar faces, including Colin Whitfield, her old under-10s coach.

“It’s always nice to come back and see all the girls and the people that were here when I was here as well,” said Russo, speaking to KentOnline.

“They had a massive impact on my journey and my career as a player.

“I used to have loads of fond memories down here, playing week in, week out with the boys and with the girls and the tournaments in the summer.

“It’s always nice see the future stars coming through.

“To come back and even just see everyone and pay a little bit of thanks to them for everything they did for me, it’s always important to me to do that.”

Russo is confident Bearsted’s plans will come to fruition.

“I think it’s a club filled with great players and great people,” she added.

“So for them to keep pushing the club and the facilities and trying to take it to the next level is really important to everyone because they have high ambitions and high aspirations for everyone here.”

Russo had a brief spell at West Farleigh before