On the ball: Albany Caledonians star Shelley Thompson heads for a US college scholarship via Perth Azzurri

They say a journey starts with but a single step, but Shelley Thompson is about to take a giant leap in her soccer career.

Thompson, 18, who was a mainstay for Albany Caledonian before moving to turn out for Perth Azzurri, is heading off to the USA later this month on a soccer scholarship.

She loved playing for Calies but has a tuition scholarship to attend college in Sioux City, Iowa, and that was not an adventure she was ever going to turn down.

Part of Thompson’s preparation for the big move was to head to the under-21 NPL WA competition in Perth, hoping to hone her skills as time to head overseas loomed closer.

Her soccer trajectory has been on a constantly upward curve.

Starting as a junior with Polonia she moved to Calies for senior competition. She twice earned State selection and was then a key member of the Great Southern Soccer Association’s country week side last season.

As the GSSA stormed to a maiden title, Thompson was named player of the grand final for her stand-out performance in the midfield, despite being one of the youngest in the squad.

All that was achieved alongside excellent ATAR results from Albany Senior High School despite having to do her homework in the car as mum Taryn and dad Ash drove her up and down Albany Highway for training.

Earning the scholarship was quite a process as Thompson had to supply video footage and coach testimonials, as well as take part in interviews.

Eventually she secured her slot at Iowa Tech Community College where she will be studying for two years before, hopefully, heading to university and a four-year degree.

She said she picked Iowa because she liked the program on offer.

“I’ll be doing an Associate of Arts, though it will be mainly science-based,” Thompson said.

“For the soccer, I was interviewed by multiple coaches but I decided on Iowa because I liked the coach and his coaching style.

“There’s definitely potential to go on from there; the junior college will allow me to develop and to go on somewhere bigger and better.

“I know nothing really about America bar the big, main cities; I will have to do a little bit of research.”

While her sport is important and has led to this opportunity, Thompson is keen to do well in her studies because she wants to be a radiographer.

“I’m ambitious for my soccer but I really like my academic career and I don’t want to give all that up for soccer,” she said.

“Hopefully the two years plus four years in America will still give me the chance to come back to Australia for study with the skills I pick up there.”

She was back in Albany in May for the Belt-Up Regional Festival of Football, sitting on a women in football breakfast panel and turning out for the Azzurri in the feature women’s match.

But as the big adventure looms, with her flight scheduled for July 26, she is enjoying life in Perth, where she is living with her brother and where soccer is her main focus.

“I’m really enjoying it; it’s been hard being away from family and good friends, but I love the soccer which is challenging me and I can feel myself improving,” she said.

“It’s a different lifestyle, training twice a week and playing, but I do miss the country.

“It’s also tough for Mum having her son and daughter away, but she’s got the dog and Dad.”