The 22 year old from Navenby has just gained a UEFA B coaching licence in double quick time and is one of the youngest to achieve the grade.

Tracey, who has been with Lincoln City Ladies FC since she was 13, is now qualified to coach the country's 'elite' players at academy level.

It involved a week long intensive course in Surrey learning all the new and different ways of coaching, the completion of a portfolio of tasks which included 14 hours of coaching, and a final practical assessment.

And it took her just three months to complete instead of the usual six.

"Only a few people have achieved their UEFA B licence and I am the only one in Lincolnshire, so I am really pleased," said the talented striker turned defender.

"I started coaching when I was at college but only did the odd little session. I liked it so much I decided to carry on and have been coaching now for a couple of years.

"I am football mad and now I can coach it will be football 24/7, which is great."

Tracey, who has made 15 appearances for the Lady Imps this season and netted four goals, coaches the club's U17s Centre of Excellence team which is currently second in the Lincolnshire League.

She also works for Lincoln City's Football in the Community and is involved in the FA's Grassroots scheme in the evening.

Her tutor for the course was Keith Bonas, who is Charlton Athletic manager.

"He let me train with the Charlton team while I was in Surrey," Tracey said. "They play at the next level up to Lincoln so I gained a lot from the experience."

Her final assessment, which took place last week, was scrutinised by former Lincoln City player Alan Walker.

"The UEFA B licence qualifies me to coach at academy level, working up to youth teams and with the elite players," Tracey said.

"The next step is the UEFA A licence but I need more experience of working with older kids at 11-a-side before I can work up to that, so I'm just going to see how I get on working as I am at the moment."

Tracey's love of football began at an early age when she was a mascot for the local team.

"I remember being on a footballing course at the age of seven or eight at North Hykeham," she said.

"My grandad managed a local team and I was mascot sometimes. My dad also played football so my interest grew from there. I'm quite an active person and I love football. I love playing, I understand the game pretty well and it was a natural progression to coach."

Tracey began playing regularly at the age of 13 when she played for Navenby where she lived. She then got scouted for Lincoln's Centre of Excellence and has been with Lincoln City ever since.

"I look at the game differently now even when I play," she said. "I am seeing it as a coach rather than a player and it can be very frustrating at times particularly when things aren't going so well."