Alice Pumphrey will cheer on Lionesses with no regrets over switch to boxing
But Pumphrey became hooked after heading to her local boxing gym for the first time to improve her fitness, and almost immediately made the tough decision to rip up her deal with the Red Devils and devote herself full-time to her new obsession.
'I'd been playing football almost every day since the age of four, and I was scouted when I was 11 and playing with a boys' team in Fleetwood,' Pumphrey told the PA news agency.
'I went for a trial with United and they said they were going to give me a contract. That meant I could only play for United, so on the days I couldn't play I got bored and went to the gym for extra fitness.
'After a week I told my dad I wanted to box. He told me to see the season out with United and they tried to convince me to stay. But by then I knew what I wanted to do.'
Pumphrey's decision has proved a wise one. A slew of English, British and European junior titles followed, culminating in a world under-19 title in Colorado towards the end of last year, and a full-time place on the GB Boxing squad.
She is bullish about her future prospects – having targeted Olympic gold in Los Angeles, followed by turning professional and winning undisputed titles at four different weights – and will stop at nothing to achieve it, uprooting from the west coast to relocate to Batley where she trains in the Purge gym.
Pumphrey, once a fleet-footed left winger, is the same age as Lionesses saviour Michelle Agyemang, who will aim to summon more heroics when England face Spain in the European Championship on Sunday.
But while she will be an avid viewer, the light-flyweight will not once stop to wonder what might have been had she decided not to follow her heart through those gym doors seven years ago.
'I've never regretted it,' she added. 'In football you've got 10 other people and subs who you have to rely on to win a game, but in the boxing ring it's down to you to perform.
'I don't like having to depend on other people. In that ring it's you and the person who is trying to take your head off, and that's what I love.'
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