TWO teenage footballers have kicked off their education at Leigh College.

Manchester United Women first team players Ella Toone and Fran Bentley have signed for courses at Leigh Sports Village.

The club started playing their games at the stadium on the site this season and training at the complex.

Winger Ella, 19, has enrolled on a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport Science course with a future coaching career in mind.

Goalkeeper Fran, 17, has signed up for a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Business course to keep her options open off the football pitch.

Both players have represented England with Ella recently scoring on her Under 23s debut against Sweden in the Nordiac Cup.

Former Fred Longworth High School pupil Ella scored in United’s 12-0 rout over Aston Villa Ladies on the opening day of the season.

She said: “I’m looking forward to the course, the tutors are really supportive and I can’t wait to get started.

“The college is a perfect location and means I can go straight to training after classes.”

Ella also praised her side’s “brilliant” fans after 4,835 people turned up at Leigh Sports Village to watch the club’s 2-0 home defeat to Reading.

It is a record attendance for the WSL Championship competition.

Fran is also optimistic about her course at the college.

She added: “I will get good support here and the staff will be here to help me with things like getting my work before, in order for me to take away when I am on Manchester United or England duty.”