Vanisha Patel was inspired by the movie Bend It Like Beckham

Vanisha Patel, from Walmer, is going to an awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in London on Saturday.

The captain of Deal Town Rangers girls' team has been nominated in the Sony Television Asia awards.

"When I first found out Mum said don't get too excited in case you don't win - now we're over the moon," she said.

Christmas present

Vanisha has seen Bend It Like Beckham, in which a young Asian girl achieves her football dream against the odds, at least 25 times.

"My mum got it for me as a Christmas present and I love it," she said.

In the film, the heroine's parents disapprove of her playing football but Vanisha does not have that problem.

"I wasn't so keen on football to start with but now I'm totally behind her," said her mother Margaret.

"She has the energy and commitment to go further and she needs her family's support."

Nicola Court, her teacher at Walmer Secondary School, said: "Vanisha stands out, not just in football but all the other activities.

"Her netball is fantastic as well."