TEENAGER Kieran Mahon is a step nearer realising his dream of becoming a professional footballer after securing a place at a prestigious new academy. The 16-year-old, who has just completed his GCSEs at Les Beaucamps School, has been chosen from hundreds of hopefuls as one of just 21 boys to join the FootballCV Academy – the first of its kind in the world.

‘It’s a dream of mine to become a professional footballer and play for a Premier League side just like my hero, Steven Gerrard. The academy is a great opportunity for me to make that dream come true – I’m really excited and looking forward to the start of training in September,’ he said.

‘I want to get a professional contract and play for the Republic of Ireland. I think it will be a good experience and I hope to improve my game and play at a higher level.

‘If I’m playing 30 hours of footy a week, I will improve. It’s going to be very hard but I’m going to put a lot of effort into it with hard training,’ said Mahon, who plays for North and had trials with Southampton in January.

He has represented Guernsey at Star Trophy level and he played in the inaugural under-16 Muratti last season.

Mahon was at the David Beckham Academy in December when he was spotted by a Watford scout and recommended for academy trials.

‘There were about 100 in the trials and I was thrilled to get through. I would like to play for Liverpool, but if not a first or second division team.’

Based at Rushden & Diamonds’ Nene Park ground in Northampton-shire, the academy will play a number of friendlies against Premiership and Football League opposition as well as follow daily training programmes.

They will also compete in the Football Conference Youth League against the likes of Birmingham City and Watford. Some of the games will be on Sky Sports, which will be monitoring progress.

After training, midfielder and predominantly left-footed Mahon will head to the classroom with the rest of the team to continue a comprehensive football education with seminars, workshops, visits to games and guest speakers, including some of the sport’s biggest names.

His parents, Saran and Steve, have made a significant financial investment to enable their son to join the independent, private, residential academy, which is totally dedicated to the footballing and educational needs of its students.

‘Our family are all proud of him and wish him all the best. He has been given the opportunity and has to go out there and enjoy it. He has played football since he was six and he lives and dreams it,’ said his dad.

‘He has the mental endurance and the scouts have said he has huge potential and if he has the talent, let’s try and exercise that. We will give him the [financial] backing – it’s just like paying for him to go on a sports scholarship or to university.’

Providing a genuine safety net and solid platform for potential future stars, it will be run by former professional footballers and coaches.

Ex-Northern Ireland international Kevin Wilson will manage the team.

Ultimately the academy can help released players back into the fold and give late developers a solid platform to make the breakthrough grade and earn a living from the game.

‘He has got the skills and the ability and hopefully he will make something of it,’ said his mother.

When he comes back during school breaks he aims to play for North’s Youth One side under the tutelage of Ross Cameron.