A mum has hailed the “super supportive” community after her daughter was accidentally cropped from a magazine’s football team picture.

Seven-year-old Stevie was left “despondent” after an article referred to Evergreen as a team “made up of boys” and omitted her from the photo.

The publication has since apologised and explained the errors were accidental.

After being posted on social media numerous locals showered Stevie with praise saying what an “incredible player she is” and encouraging her to keep going.

Her mum Abigail said the positivity put a smile back on her face, with the youngster at one point saying: “Oh Mummy, I think I’m an internet sensation!”

Watford Observer: Stevie, 7, with her mum Abigail.Stevie, 7, with her mum Abigail.

Abigail, 42, added: “It just makes me feel firstly that we are supported by the local community but secondly backs me up in my initial reaction to not seeing my daughter included.

“It’s nice to see what I saw wasn’t me being biased. They saw the same kind of injustice.”

Abigail and her daughter, from Hunton Bridge, also gave a shout-out to the “amazing” Evergreen coaches – “especially her under 7s coaches Adam, Sean, Mark and Dan”.

Sara Bedford, Liberal Democrat county and district councillor for Abbots Langley, said: “As someone who played and refereed from a young age, and is still involved in the game, I’m always delighted to see girls and women loving football.

“I’m disappointed by this treatment of a young player, but hope that Stevie will not be discouraged and will continue to enjoy playing football for many years to come.”

Watford Observer: Stevie was accidentally cropped from a local magazine's picture.Stevie was accidentally cropped from a local magazine's picture.

Nik Allen, founder of My Local News, said: "Evergreen – a football club I served for 13 years – sent us the featured photo.

“The photograph provided was too wide to fit in our A5 magazine, which meant that Stevie, who was standing on the far right of the team, was unfortunately automatically cut out of the image when we placed it into the designed page.

“Therefore, our proofing team did not see the goalkeeper in the photo, and wrongly concluded that it was an all-boys’ side.”

He added: “This proved to be an unfortunate but innocent mistake that we rectified online immediately.

“We then contacted the club and apologised to the players, parents and staff. 

“Our swift online apology, published of our own volition as soon as we were made aware of the error, was well received by the community."