And if anyone doubts the 17-year-old from Fleetwood means business she has just gained her gained her FA Level Two Coaching Certificate, making her one of just a handful of girls to reach that level in Lancashire.

Melissa, who spent three years as a midfielder at Blackburn Rovers' school of excellence, passes on her know-how at Fleetwood Town juniors at their Saturday Morning Soccer Club and School Holiday Club.

And when summer comes she switches to cricket to play for Thornton Cleveleys fourth team and Blackpool Ladies.

"I never get a rest," Melissa, who has fitted her FA coaching courses around studying for AS Levels at Blackpool Sixth Form College.

"The games are so different. Football is very commercial and there's a lot of publicity about it and cricket gets pushed to one side which is a shame."

As a pupil at Millfield School Thornton, she was involved in every sport available – netball, hockey, basketball, badminton and athletics.

She was bitten by the soccer bug at the age of 12 and two years after that took up cricket, to the delight of her dad Bill who, in his prime, played for Thornton Cleveleys first team.

She said: "I always used to play in the back garden. If there is a ball I was always kicking it or throwing it."

She opens the bowling and bats high up the order for the ladies' cricket team although she only classes her bowling at medium pace when mixing with the men at Thornton Cleveleys.

She said: "I just do it to enjoy it. The fourth team is fun, it's not very serious and it's a laugh as well.

"I could never hope to get up as high as the first team although I hope one day to push for the third team. But they are big with huge muscles and I can't match that.

"I've never experienced any problems because I can keep up the banter with the men.

"When I bowl someone out they do get ribbed a bit."

Of her soccer coaching achievements she said: "The level two badge took six months of hard work. It also took up a great deal of time in addition to my studies.

"It consisted of well over 12 hours of sessions, coaching techniques and principles.

"There were 15 people on my course only five passed. I was the only girl and youngest person. The oldest person was 40-something."

She added: "I will continue with my coaching work at Fleetwood Town.

"I played for Lytham YMCA last season but have a couple of options open to me at the moment for the new term. I'm studying sports science, biology and English but not sure of a future career."

Fleetwood Town's first team coach Andy Whittaker commented: "It is a massive jump from level one coaching to level two qualification. You have to put in so many hours and stage a wide variety of coaching sessions including, boys, girls, children, teenagers and adults.

"It's a great achievement for Melissa."