BETH Lincoln admits it was 'pretty cool' getting to meet England football stars Frank Lampard and Kelly Smith at a recent Football Association training day.

BETH Lincoln admits it was 'pretty cool' getting to meet England football stars Frank Lampard and Kelly Smith at a recent Football Association training day.

The 11-year-old Stowmarket-based football fanatic was selected as one of around 130 lucky children to take part in the day after submitting one of 250,000 entries to an online FA competition.

Held at the prestigious Grove Hotel at Chandlers Cross, Hertfordshire - the venue where the England team often stay prior to international matches - participants were greeted on arrival by Radio Five presenter Mark Clemmit.

After a light lunch it was off to the grounds for coaching sessions including shooting through targets, a shot power measuring game and a session of passing 'through the gate', with Arsenal ladies star Kelly Smith and Chelsea hero Frank Lampard participating throughout.

The youngsters were then taken back indoors for a spoof media session and photos with Lampard and Smith who fielded a number of questions from the children.

Lincoln began playing for her local team, the Stow Falcons, at the age of eight and has been playing for the Ipswich Town Girls Centre of Excellence Under-12 team for the past year.

“Beth has always been a keen footballer and has played since the age of six,” said her mother Tracy Lincoln.

On meeting the England stars Beth's mother admitted her daughter was 'chuffed to bits', while Beth concurred that meeting the superstars 'was pretty cool'.

Tracy said: “Being a huge Arsenal fan it was a dream come true for Beth to meet Kelly Smith who she had watched in the women's FA Cup final. It was great for her to meet a bit of an idol and someone who she would love to emulate.”

As for now, Beth can't wait to show her team mates the new skills she learnt from her action-packed and star-studded day.