By Ruby, School Reporter Bishop Challoner School and Sixth Form College, Kings Heath, Birmingham

Where do you feel at home? Roisin and Ruby quiz the England-born US player.

The English people have always been known to be proud of their football. England International Karen Carney gives us a very good reason to be.

Carney has played for Birmingham City, Arsenal, and is now plying her trade for Chicago Red Stars.

She has also been named as one of the top ten most skilful players in the world and yet she is only 22-years-old. Considering her age, what she has achieved in those few years is immense.

Karen Carney was typically modest when she said: "Everyone builds themselves up the pyramid, but of course the pyramid becomes narrower. Everyone starts from the foundations."

Like many before her, Karen started playing in the park with the lads, before getting involved with St Ambrose Barlow's school football team. She gives great credit to her school and soccer clubs for helping her get to where she is today.

"Any person who has reached an elite level has had to start somewhere and it's all from grass roots level," she said. Indeed she hopes one day to start up her own organisation to coach and guide young footballers.

Karen also thanks her family, especially her parents, for getting to this level of her profession. As part of the BBC Sport's Unsung Hero initiative, Carney said her unsung hero would be her Mom, for all the support and dedication she has constantly given over the years.

'Home sweet home'

Even though she has lived in London, "a hip, cool place", and Chicago, "a stunning city - you've got all the beaches and the night life is like New York", Birmingham will always be her home because of her family, friends and memories.

When asked if she thinks the male and female game will ever be amalgamated, she said straightaway: "No", because the way of playing is just so different.

She said: "I look at our sport as the same as tennis. Male and female tennis is very, very different. The men's is more quick and powerful and the women's is more about finesse and has more rallies - and that's the same with men's and women's football.

"Men's is at a fast pace and focused on strength, whereas the women's is full of finesse and more skilful - and I think that's what the public have to associate with; male and female football is very different.

"We've accepted that with tennis, why can't we do the same with women's football? That's the route that we've got to go. Hopefully the people will like it."

As she has finesse and skill in abundance, we're sure to be hearing a lot more about Karen Carney in years to come.

Parents prove inspiration By Roisin, School Reporter Bishop Challoner School and Sixth Form College, Kings Heath, Birmingham

Karen (right) nominated her parents as her Unsung Heroes

Karen Carney is not only an exceptionally talented England footballer but also a down-to-earth human being.

After interviewing her, I found her insight on the German football team, the European Championships and her inspiration, very interesting.

We sat down and the camera was rolling. She seemed at ease with this, unlike me.

As she is promoting the BBC Sport's Unsung Hero Award, I was very interested in who her unsung hero was.

She told me that it was her parents who were vital in the development of her footballing career. When she was younger and her mother was recovering from breast cancer, she still came to support her daughter, so it's not surprising that Karen's parents are her heroes.

As a career high, Karen said competing in this year's European Championships was one of the highlights.

Aiming high

Germany won, beating England 6-2 in the final, adding to their other five championships they have won, but what I was interested in is: Can England ever beat Germany?

Karen's opinion on the matter was: "Anyone is beatable. Everyone is striving to be like the Germans. Hopefully one day England will be at the same level as them."

This positive attitude must be a real asset to the England squad. It is important that you are not just a talented footballer, but that you also have the right attitude as well. Karen seems to have both.

Karen is a role model for so many young girls out there; her advice to an aspiring young woman wishing to pursue a career in football would be to always believe in yourself. "Enjoy it," she said. "Whenever you enjoy it, you always play the best football."

Grass roots

She knows exactly how young players must feel as she started playing football herself in the school playground. She progressed to Sunday football, then onto Birmingham City, Arsenal and now the Chicago Red Bulls.

When I asked her where she enjoyed living the most, it came as no surprise that she said the West Midlands. "Birmingham is my home," she said. "Nothing beats home." Her feet are still firmly on the ground and she has never forgotten her roots.

My interview with Karen Carney is something that I, as an avid footballer myself, will remember for a long time. She is an inspiring woman who gives the male footballers like David Beckham a run for their money. It was interesting to hear her views and along with the rest of the West Midlands, I wish her the best of luck for the future.

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