ARSENAL Ladies’ Jordan Nobbs has been recognised as a future champion by the Jaguar Academy of Sport.

The St Albans football prodigy was one of 50 “Rising Stars” presented with a £2,000 bursary by Sir Chris Hoy and Dame Kelly Holmes at an awards evening host by Jaguar in London.

In addition to the bursary, Nobbs also started the Mentoring and Education Programme, which focuses on the emotional, physical and psychological elements of being a young athlete.

The 20-year-old said the bursary would help fund her university education and outlined her goals for the upcoming year and beyond.

“I want to be a part of the England senior squad and keep my place in the Arsenal ladies team next season,” she said.

“Long term I want to be a Champions League winner and be a part of World Cup and European Cup England teams as they are massive tournaments in which I have experience and would love to win.”

In her short time as a professional, Nobbs has won FA Young Player of the year, Arsenal Ladies’ Player of the Season, the FA Cup, Continental Cup and WSL with the Gunners and earned three caps in the England senior squad.

She was also a European Championship winner with under-19 national squad in 2009.

Tim Lawler, Chief Executive of SportsAid, which administers the bursary find on behalf of the academy, said: “SportsAid is proud to work with The Jaguar Academy of Sport to help the next generation of British sporting talent and we look forward to many more years together as the programme continues to grow.

“Success in sport takes a huge amount of dedication and commitment and the academy plays an indispensable role in nurturing this. The athletes have a lot to gain from being part of it.”

The Academy, now in its fourth year, has awarded 185 bursaries to date and by the end of 2013 will have invested £600,000 in the future of British sport. This support has made a significant difference to the rising stars development pathway with a high proportion of athletes moving on to elite funding, and pushing for success at world-class level.