ELLIE Carpenter has a dream to see more country girls follow her footsteps into the ranks of elite footballers and if she was looking for a way to inspire that next generation, it came on Sunday.
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The 20-year-old was named Asian Football Confederation's Best Women's Player of 2020. It was an award voted on by both fans and a panel of independent Asian football experts.
In beating out the likes of fellow Matildas stars Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord, the girl who grew up in Cowra and spent time training and playing in Bathurst showed what is possible.
"It's a real honour to be awarded the best in Asia for 2020. I'm so proud to represent Australia and Asia on the world stage," she said.
Prior to that award, Carpenter was the first female footballer to be voted as AFC's Player of the Week.
Last year the talented defender was part of the Matildas' successful bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, was a star of the W-League title-winning Melbourne City and then signed for French giants Olympique Lyonnais.
She's now become a regular in Lyons' starting side and playing a role in the club's push for a 15th consecutive French league crown.
To reach those heights after her beginnings in the Central West made Carpenter a perfect choice as ambassador and lead mentor in a newly created program to support talented young female players in regional NSW who have aspirations for big things in football.
"There is so much raw talent unknown out there and I'm on a mission to discover the future generation of women footballers for the game I love," she said.
"My dream is to see many more country girls grow, develop and prosper as footballers so they can continue driving this amazing initiative in years to come.
"I have been wanting to align myself with something like this for a long time and put time towards trying to close the gap between opportunities forwarded to metro and country-based girls.
"I am really looking forward to seeing many more regional girls realise their dreams in our beloved sport."
