THE daughter of former Burnley player Andy Farrell has embarked on a dream football scholarship in America.

Emily, 18, flew out to Mobile this week to start a four-year degree at the University of South Alabama.

She started her career at Turf Moor and former Clarets midfielder Andy, who is now youth team coach, said he was proud of his daughter's sporting success.

He said: "I’m proud of my girl, but I’ll a bit nervous until she’s actually settled in – just getting her there was a bit worrying!

“I’m looking forward to seeing what she can actually achieve, I think in terms of her football she could be very good if she gets her head down.

“She’s got a good build and she’s got good technical abilities as well.”

Emily jetted out with Nicola Shirtcliffe, 18, from Padiham.

Clarets fan Nicola has represented her country playing for BCS England Colleges.

The girls know each other from their time playing for Blackburn Rovers’ ladies squad and ACCROSS Girls Academy at Accrington College.

They travelled to America with a third girl from Reading, the only other girl from the UK to receive one of the sought-after football scholarships. The girls arrived safely in the States on Monday night after a difficult journey – their plane from Manchester to Amsterdam was delayed, they missed their connecting flight to Atlanta, and had to spend a night in a hotel in the Netherlands.

The girls will study a range of subjects in their first year and then decide what to specialise in, but Nicola is interested in working with sports injuries in the future, and Emily is thinking about a career in physiotherapy. Nicola’s grandmother Jean Cunningham said: “The whole family is extremely proud of her. I hope she achieves all her ambitions.

“I miss her already but we’ll keep in touch on Skype and she’ll be home again for Christmas.”