The 17-year-old, plus three other teenagers from around the country, outshone over 100 football volunteers at The FA’s Young Leaders Camp in Ascot to secure their Malawi place and a chance to teach the game to African children.

“It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done and I can’t stop thinking about it,” said the Burnham Grammar School student, who is also a qualified Level Two football coach.

“Everyone was so happy and friendly and I’d love to go back.”

The project was part of the ‘Changing Lives Saving Lives’ programme which aims to educate youngsters in Africa and the week long trip saw Rebecca and her colleagues mentor Malawian teenage girls in the Limbe and Ndirande townships on how to stage their own football coaching festival for local children.

Rebecca, who not only coaches disability football but volunteers at Hazlemere Girls FC as well, was impressed with the girls’ football skills and added: “Obviously they don’t have computers or PlayStations over there, so most of their spare time is spent playing sport.

“You could tell that they practice a lot because there were some really talented footballers in our group.”

Rebecca admits that one of her biggest challenges as a young leader was connecting with the Malawian girls and breaking down the language barrier.

“It was difficult because we couldn’t understand each other so you had to use other ways of communication like body language, positive hand gestures and drawing pictures to get your point across,” she said.

“It definitely seemed to work though!”

All of the local children taking part in the coaching and football festivals received FA kit and equipment, but a real highlight for Rebecca was when four young boys turned up to watch one of the football sessions.

“They couldn’t take part as it was for girls so I gave them all an FA pin badge instead,” she revealed.

“They were so happy that you’d have thought we’d given them a piece of gold. It was unbelievable really and it just goes to show that they hardly have any material possessions of their own.”

Now that she’s back home, Rebecca is hoping to progress her own coaching career as soon as possible: “The trip has really inspired me and I’m now looking to push on and take my Level One and Two certificates in Disability Football.”