Redditch soccer hopeful aiming to make it stateside

Buy photos » Footballer Aaron Whittaker will be flying to the States this summer to start his scholarship. (s)

A PROMISING footballer is heading out to America after winning a soccer scholarship.

Aaron Whittaker, from Church Hill, will be flying out to Hastings College in Nebraska this summer where he will complete a soccer programme as well as continue the sports journalism degree he started at Southampton Solent University.

Having started playing aged five, the 18-year-old was spotted by a company called Pass4Soccer while studying at NEW College.

"They said I had the potential to gain a scholarship over there. I started speaking to this college myself and the coach was interested because of my playing background so then I had to send a video of game footage and enrol in the college."

While abroad, Aaron will be training and playing everyday and travelling across the USA with the college team, who have won their league for the past 14 seasons.

Before going to university, the former Arrow Vale student was involved in pre-season training with Alvechurch FC and also played for Sunday league team Alvechurch Lions.

"I'm so excited, I can't wait to get out there and play the sport I'm passionate about day-in, day-out alongside furthering my education. It's a very unique and a once in a lifetime opportunity," he added.

Regional news »