IN 2011, Demi Stokes travelled to America in order to pursue a career in football. Born in South Shields, and a long-time member of Sunderland’s successful academy, the fleet-footed full-back didn’t particularly want to move to the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean in order to live out her dream of being a professional player.

The alternative, however, was to remain in an English system that was light years behind its American equivalent, with women’s football regarded as something of a quirky gimmick rather than a serious sport capable of moving into the mainstream.

Four years on, and the Tynesider is back on British soil, having signed a three-year contract with Manchester City, one of the trailblazers in the buoyant Women’s Super League. Later this summer, she will hope to be part of an England squad that will travel to Canada for the Women’s World Cup with genuine hopes of winning a competition that will see the BBC provide live coverage of every game.

No longer seen as an inferior version of the men’s game, women’s football can claim to be the fastest-growing female sport in the country. As a result, the ‘American dream’ can be realised on British shores.

“It’s crazy how much the profile of the game has changed,” said Stokes, who is part of the England squad that is currently in Cyprus preparing for the prestigious Cyprus Cup tournament. “A lot of people were going to America because, like me, they probably thought there wasn’t a lot at home for them.

“You don’t have to do that now. You can stay in England, be at a good club, train full time and do just as well. I’ve seen both sides and now there’s not a lot of difference.

“The gap has narrowed massively in the last couple of years. I couldn’t get over just how much had changed when I came back. Everything is just really professional now.

“That’s how it was in America, and it’s really nice to see the same attitude in place over here. The gap has closed and in a lot of ways, I think what we’re doing over here is even better than what’s happening in the States.”

Having first joined Sunderland’s academy at the age of eight, Stokes readily admits she was subjected to some mocking comments when her love of football developed.

At the time, women’s football was not regarded as a viable profession, and the sight of a group of girls kicking a ball around on a field was a novelty.

Now, it is commonplace in parks and schools up and down the country, with the success of the British side at London 2012 and the advent of the Super League having helped transform the sport’s profile and standing.

“The interest from younger girls has really grown,” said Stokes. “It’s seen as something that’s pretty cool to do now, and that’s brilliant. It’s really nice to see young girls aspiring to be footballers and play for some of the top clubs and for England. They’re seeing players they know and thinking, ‘I want to be like that too’.

“Growing up, I’m sure a lot of girls who are my age, and even a few who are a bit older, experienced the odd negative comment. You were aware of some things being said, and even had the odd dad saying bad things about you.

“You don’t hear about that now, and hopefully it’s something that’s completely in the past. I think parents are really supportive of girls getting into football now. Why not? If you’re a girl getting into football, there are a lot of opportunities for you now.”

This year’s big opportunity for Stokes is the World Cup finals, and while England have been drawn in a tricky group that also features France, Colombia and Mexico, a squad that should feature fellow North-Easterners Steph Houghton, Jill Scott, Jordan Nobbs, Lucy Bronze and Carly Telford should be more than capable of making a big impression.

“It’s all very exciting,” said Stokes. “It’s good that we’re going to have the opportunity to play on the biggest stage of all. We’re trying to keep on our toes, and hopefully we’ll go over there and do well.

“A lot more people are watching us now, and we’re aware that brings a certain amount of pressure. But I think we’d all rather have it that way than have no one paying any interest to what we’re doing.

“More people know about us now, but you have to put that to one side and just go out and play the game and enjoy it.”

Stokes will also be targeting a domestic title with Manchester City following her move from the South Florida Bulls, and with Sunderland having been promoted to WSL1, the 23-year-old has already earmarked the two clubs’ April 1 meeting at The Hetton Centre as a key date in her diary.

“I went through the ranks at Sunderland,” she said. “And that’s how I met Mick (Mulhern), who was a big influence on me. That’s how it all started.

“I was really pleased to see them get promoted. Having been at the club for a lot of years, and seen how hard people have worked to keep growing, I think it’s great to see them get to where they are.

“It’s just nice to see that all the hard work has paid off. Good luck to them, I hope they have a really good season – except when they play against us.”