Fran Kirby resented being docked a mark for defending by her college PE teacher - but the Reading striker is being backed to make the grade with England at the World Cup.
As a dribbler in the Paul Gascoigne mould, and a finisher who models her game on Thierry Henry, Kirby has plenty to cover any perceived weaknesses.
It may have irked her as a teenager to be denied perfect marks at the John Madejski Academy for her coursework, which can be seen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbmSnKBEm2I).
But following a tough time off the pitch, Kirby, 21, is happy just to be playing again and heading for the biggest stage in women's football.
She quit the game at the age of 17 when suffering from delayed depression following the sudden death of her mother, Denise, three years earlier.
Kirby kept on with the PE course, and tentatively began playing Sunday football before returning to the semi-professional ranks at Reading and, last year, becoming the club's first full-time female player. She began this season, in the second tier of the women's game, with nine goals in two games.
She laughs at the reminder of her coursework, and said: "Through that period was when I had my dip stage.
"That was quite a while ago now and it's quite funny to watch it back and see how I was in sixth form. I got one mark off my defending which I was quite annoyed about."
Kirby, who stands 5ft 2in tall, remembers being urged to make the most of her footballing talent by her mother.
"She would just say, 'Enjoy every minute of doing it'," Kirby told Press Association Sport. "She always wanted to make sure I was enjoying my football, and I'm getting rewarded for my performances.
"Being able to do this every day, I'm really lucky, and I think all the England girls would agree with me."
As an Arsenal supporter, Henry was a natural idol for the young Kirby.
"Henry could do everything - dribbling, using his pace to get in behind, finishing from inside and outside the box," she said. "I felt he had the whole package and that's what I want to be as a football player."
Kirby was player of the match when England lost 1-0 to the United States in February, dazzled in a cameo against Germany at Wembley last November, and took China apart in 10 minutes during their April friendly in Manchester, creating a first-minute goal for Jodie Taylor with a powerful run and teasing cross before cracking home the second herself.
England beat China 2-1, and manager Mark Sampson is thrilled to have Kirby in Canada, where the Lionesses open their World Cup campaign against France in Moncton on June 9.
"Without a shadow of a doubt. Fran has done great since she came in, she's a great talent," Sampson said.
Assistant manager Marieanne Spacey was a star forward in an England career that spanned from 1984 to 2001.
Spacey sees a formidable player emerging in Kirby.
Spacey said: "Sometimes the youthful exuberance is what is fantastic to have on the pitch.
"It's the sense of having no fear. It's like 'I'm enjoying myself, I'm with a group of mates and I'm playing in an England shirt'.
"Why wouldn't you then perform?
"The girls love her, the staff like working with her. We want her to keep getting better and moving to the next level and the next level again."
Source: PA
