Lady Cougars starlet Shabena Crockwell played last season with a heavy heart after her beloved older brother Shaki was shot and killed only weeks before the start of the campaign.

Shabena vowed to keep her big brother's memory alive and as a pre-match ritual placed a photograph of the late Boulevard Blazers talisman down her right sock as inspiration.

The loving gesture worked with Shabena starring for Lady Cougars who enjoyed a memorable season lifting the FA Cup, Charity Shield and the Freisenbruch-Meyer Cup last term.

The 16-year-old lefty even started using her right foot.

"I did it before our opening game in the Charity game and I carried on throughout the rest of the season," said Shabena who plays in midfield.

"My brother had a football dream and I want to carry it on. I put his picture in my sock so he will give me inspiration on the pitch."

Shabena started playing football at the tender age of four after growing up watching Shaki and father Danny Crockwell - no mean player himself - grace the local leagues.

She admits she idolised Shaki, who represented the Bermuda national team, and tried to imitate his style of play and his trademark tricks.

"Growing up I would go to my father's games, and I would always want to play so that was the start of it all," she said.

Her proud father Danny said Shabena was like Shaki's second shadow growing up in Middle Town.

"Whenever he would go out to play she would be right behind, trying to learn everything he knew," said Danny.

"He taught her all sorts of tricks from the Ronaldinho to the chicken noodle.

"When we would go to games prior to last season she was always on her left foot, but since he passed away she has been trying to develop her right more."

Crockwell wants to live out her brother's dreams in the sport he loved.

She wants to play for the Arsenal Ladies' first team and with four goals to her name last season, is undoubtedly a potential star of the future and will ensure the Crockwell name lives on in local football.