A CHEPSTOW soccer player will be part of a Welsh side competing in the homeless World Cup next month.

When Rachel Wood travels to Chile in South America it will be the first time that she will have ever been abroad.

Rachel now has a flat in Chepstow, volunteers for Chepstow Foodbank and is a member of the Bridge Church in Bulwark – but when she first got involved with Street Football Wales three years ago it was a very different story.

She said: "I was in a bad place. I didn't have a permanent roof over my head and I had poor mental health.

"Street Football Wales helped turn my life around and it has turned other people's lives around too."

The Welsh Warriors is the female team and the men's team is the Welsh Dragons and they are among the 64 nations taking part between October 17 and 28.

She said: "I'm looking forward to it but I'm a bit scared because I've never been abroad before.

"We've got a bit to live up because last year Wales lost to England in the final on penalties."

On Saturday (September 20) Rachel will be taking part in a sponsored walk up Constitution Hill in Swansea as part of Street Football Wales's efforts to raise £12,000 to send the teams to Chile.