A family is celebrating a double success story as a set of twins take big steps forward in their sporting journeys.
Lily and Alfie Stevenson, from Shelton, have been life long sports fans and from a young age have shown promise in their chosen sports of football and rugby.
After showing skill in the Nottingham Forest Academy U16s squad, Lily took a major step up last month when she made her debut for the Nottingham Forest Women's First Team.
At the age of just 16-years-old, she became the youngest player to represent the club as she took to the field in the National League game against Stourbridge.
The young footballer previously played in the Leicester City Academy and last summer was invited to attend the England Future Lionesses training camp.
Just days later, Alfie was accepted into the U17s Leicester Tigers Academy after a tough selection process which saw him beat off thousands of other young rugby players to become just one of 25 in the programme.
He has always shown promise, having played at Newark Rugby Club from seven-years-old, and went on to play regionally in the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire rugby union.
Their dad, Spencer Stevenson, said: “The fact they are twins, they fully respect and have always pushed each other to be the best that they can be.
“Lily has been playing from the age of six, but the irony is she almost got into it by accident.
“She was sat on a football watching from the sidelines one day and the team needed to make up the numbers, so she joined in and stole the show.
“But she’s so skilled and versatile, she can play every position and is almost this jack of all trades, and I think being selected has installed this belief in her that she can make it as a professional.”
He continued: “Alfie loves to play and realises how tough it is going to be to reach the highest level, but he is just at the start of his journey and I think seeing his sister do well has really spurred him on.”
“He went through a grueling process to get where he is now and has reached the pinnacle of the sport in his age group by playing for an academy.
“He’s a a very talented young player — he made it as the only fly-half in the team, so he could even be the next Johnny Wilkinson or Owen Farrell.”
The siblings run a tough schedule, leaving for school at around 6.30am and might not get home until 9pm at night as they train multiple nights a week.
At the same time the pair, who attend Ratcliffe College in Leicestershire, are currently sitting their GCSE exams.
Spencer added: “I’m insanely proud of them — not only of their achievements but also of how humble, hard working and disciplined they have always been.
“Nobody sees how much effort goes in to getting to this level at a young age, it’s such a competitive environment and we’ve spent years driving them up and down the country.
“But we can only help them so much, because at the end of the day once they cross that touchline it’s all about them, they’re doing the work.
“So as a parent, seeing them have these accolades for all their talents and skills, I think it’s a huge life lesson that you get out what you put in.
“It’s taught them the values that they will need to succeed, wherever that takes them in life.”
