A former student at Maldon's Plume Academy has been selected to play football for Team GB at the world's third-largest sporting event, in Israel next week.

Dalia Baker, 17, will join 15 other under-18s from across the country, as part of Team GB's girls football team at the 21st Maccabiah Games, which commence this Tuesday (July 12).

She will compete alongside 10,000 athletes from 80 countries.

Dalia, a big supporter of Queens Park Rangers F.C., said: "To be selected is fantastic and I want to thank the sporting team at the Plume Academy and Mr Wakefield for all their support and encouragement during my time there.

"This is a tournament that most young footballers dream of, and I'll be giving my all in these games to bring home a medal, with my teammates."

Carl Wakefield, Executive Principal at Plume Academy, told Nub News the Academy continues to be 'immensely proud' of the former student.

He said: "Securing these accolades at such a young age is immense, however, my colleagues and I are far from surprised as Dalia has always been an exceptionally able student. Across the board too; not just from a sporting perspective.

"Dalia is also a really good, kind and decent person who portrayed these qualities throughout her time at the academy.

"We have every confidence that Dalia will only go on from strength to strength as she progresses through life and the Plume Family will only look on with pride and respect as she does so."

The Maccabiah Games, known as "the Jewish Olympics", is the world's third largest sporting event, behind the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. Dalia's team will be pitting their wits against teams from Israel, Argentina, Mexico, the USA, Australia, and Canada, among others.

Here at Maldon Nub News, we wish Dalia and her teammates the best of luck.