A CHARLTON starlet turned her back on a glittering career in modelling so she could pursue her footballing dream.

Emma Coss, 23, of Quintret Close, Woking, who plays for Charlton Athletic Ladies Football team (CALFC), was chasing a modelling career when a broken nose changed it all.

Staff at the modelling agency she was working for, Select, were furious when Cross turned up to a photo shoot with a broken nose and demanded she quit playing.

But the accountant who has also modelled clothes for magazines blew the whistle on her modelling career, gave the agency the red card and decided she would concentrate on bending it like Beckham instead.

The former Arsenal player said: "In the end it was just too much hassle, so I decided just to give up the modelling because I loved playing too much."

The blonde bombshell said: " I was a real tomboy when I was younger and managed to play in boys' football teams until I was 13.

"But then I started to develop and I couldn't get away with it any more.

"Mind you, it didn't help that my brother was calling me Emma when we played."

When News Shopper asked the multi-talented Coss a British Kick Boxing Champion in 1995, 1996 and 1997 who her favourite footballer was, she said: "David Beckham, he's class."

As News Shopper went to press, Charlton Athletic Ladies were in fourth position in the league and have high hopes this season after reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup last season.

When asked how she thought Charlton Ladies will fair this season, the tough-tackling central midfield player said: "I'd like to think we could win it but Fulham and Arsenal are very strong sides. But you never know."

Indeed, CALFC have now set foundations to challenge the Fulham's and Arsenal's of this world when they announced the biggest sponsorship deal in English women's football last season.

They agreed a three-year deal with a business management consultancy firm.

Look out for news of Charlton Ladies' big game at home to Fulham at The Valley on Wednesday,

October 23.

Next week, News Shopper will bring you details of a fantastic offer to see this important league match live at the home of The Addicks.