Representing your country at any level of sport is a unique experience and Queens' School pupil Laura Hooper can vouch for the emotion such an honour stirs up.

The attacking midfielder helped England to the quarter-finals of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan earlier this month.

While the Three Lions crashed out of the competition after a 3-0 defeat to finalists Japan, Hooper says playing on the international stage was a moving experience.

“Loads of families came out to watch us and we had our parents in the crowd. Just singing to them brought out a couple of tears among the team,” she explained.

“Representing England as a whole is big thing for anyone to do.

“The tournament was a learning experience for us and it was probably a deserved win for Japan. We played well but they just had that little bit extra.”

Japan’s composed progress to the competition’s final, which saw them lose against North Korea on penalties, highlights the quality of side England lost out to.

Hooper therefore prefers to look at the tournament in a positive light, with a 2-1 victory over Brazil in the group stages providing a particular highlight for the 17-year-old.

After captaining Arsenal Under-17s to a league and cup double last season, Hooper is eager to push on and believes her grounding at Queens' provides the platform to do so.

“The school have been national champions,” she explained. “We played in stadiums with crowds and it helps you get used to what that’s like.

“Being a captain with Arsenal made me step up and feel more in charge of the team and definitely helps me when I play for England.

“It helped me be more of a role model to some of the girls as I was one of the older ones in the England team.

“The England senior team would be the target in four or five years maybe and hopefully I can go up through the under-19s and under-20s.”

The attacking intent Hooper likes to show from midfield and her eye for goal have drawn comparisons with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.

But it is Watford-born Arsenal striker Kelly Smith who Hooper says provides the biggest inspiration for achieving her goals in the professional game.

“In the women’s game I would say Kelly Smith has always been a big role model,” Hooper said.

“I train quite a bit with the Arsenal first team so have trained with her and get to watch how she plays. Hopefully I will be able to make that step up to the first team.”