A SPA sports fanatic has netted the perfect job of scouting for Thierry Henrys and Ashley Coles of the future.

Sarah McAuley, formerly a pupil at Droitwich Spa High School, has been chosen to be part of the Arsenal education initiative, known as the Arsenal Double Club. As part of the scheme, the 26-year-old will go into Hackney Free and Parochial School, in London, and deliver football-based exercises to boost numeracy and literacy.

After a 45-minute session in the classroom, Sarah will lead a football-coaching workshop.

She joins a team of seven other teachers working for the Arsenal Double Club in schools around London.

Sarah is a sports fanatic and studied physical education at the University of Brighton, playing for the football and rugby teams. Since leaving higher education she has played football, hockey and rugby at a high level and has also enjoyed a role as a player development officer for major league soccer camps in the USA.

She said: "It's a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to the terms ahead.

"It is such a different and challenging role and I hope my love of sport, particularly football, will help motivate students and improve literacy and numeracy levels, as well as raise their fitness levels.

"Sport plays such an important role in young peoples' lives that I am delighted to be a part of delivering Arsenal related academic exercises and football sessions to the students as part of the Key Stage 3 programme."

The Arsenal Double Club is a Department of Education and Skills-funded pilot scheme used to motivate students through the use of football.