CHS has another young footballer to join the ISFA ranks. Following the news that Year 9 student Max will play for their U14s team, now Year 8 student Oliver will play for the U13s.
Selected after attending a three-day U13 Regional Representative Festival tournament at Shrewsbury School, Oliver was one of 18 young players from around the country selected to be part of the schools’ player pathway leading up to the England squad.
Put forward by CHS, Oliver went through to the North West round after training and was chosen after helping his team win 4 of their 6 games.
Oliver said: “Mr Allen put me forward and it was a great experience, I didn’t think I’d played that well because I had a cold and still didn’t feel the best when I found out but it was important so I wanted to give it a try and do my best.”
Playing in midfield for CHS’s U13s A team (as well as a keen rugby player), Oliver also trains as part of Manchester City’s Football Academy programme – though he says his allegiance lies with rivals Manchester United.
Whilst Oliver started playing football aged 4 after his Dad, also a Manchester United fan, introduced him to the game, Oliver’s first experience of football at CHS was during an inter-schools tournament.
“CHS has really good facilities so playing at the School has helped me by practising on different types of pitches… grass and astro,” says Oliver.
“It’s important to not get ahead of yourself though. I just want to play football to the best level I can and keep on trying my best.”
Oliver will now go on to play his next tournament in Scotland and will be invited to play in the ISFA U14s team at the start of next season at The Oakham Academy Festival (1st-3rd August) at Oakham School.
Following the event, and player performance, two squads will be selected to represent ISFA at U14A and U14B levels during the 2016-17 season.
