Fulston Manor School pupil and Chelsea academy defender Annie Boichat steps up to international level to help England under-15s beat Scotland 4-1 at St George’s Park

Footballer Annie Boichat made her England under-15 debut - after a surprise call-up.

Boichat, a Year 10 pupil at Fulston Manor School in Sittingbourne, played the full match as England beat Scotland 4-1 at St George’s Park.

The Chelsea academy centre-back also featured in a 2-1 defeat against Spain, playing about 20 minutes.

Boichat was invited by the FA to take a heart scan at Harley Street Hospital in London in February, with the email arriving on her 15th birthday.

That was the first clue the family had that a call-up was a possibility.

“They said it wasn’t a guarantee she’d made the squad, they just needed her to get the heart scan done as I think it’s an FA rule now,” said mum Jodie.

“She had that done and on February 28 we had an email to say she’d been selected.

“She’s done well to get where she has considering she hasn’t done any trials for England or been to any regional training days.

“That’s why it came as a shock to us but they’d obviously been looking at her at Chelsea.”

The matches took place at the national football centre last month and were a great experience for Boichat, who started playing football with the boys at Sittingbourne Youth.

“She played really well, especially as it was her first cap,” added Jodie. “I can’t believe what she experienced. It was amazing - unreal.

“She’s got a long way to go. We know she hasn’t made it but she’s on the right pathway.

“There’s another camp coming up in the Netherlands and we’re hoping she might be selected for that.”

Boichat is in great hands at Chelsea, who have set the standard in women’s football during its surge in popularity. She’s in her second year with the Blues, training four times a week at Cobham.

The defender spent a season in the under-14s, after