Will Couch has signed for Burnley Football Club six months after they scouted him from our trial in Manchester.

In July 2017, Will, who plays behind the striker, was invited to Burnley’s brand new training ground for a six-week-trial with the u13’s, however just a few weeks in, a broken wrist stunted his progress and things were put on hold.

Following his recovery from injury and a successful return to Burnley, the club told him they’d like to make his stay permanent and offered him a contract at the academy.

Will’s Dad, Tony, described it as a “dream come true” for his son, who has grown up supporting the clarets.

“He was absolutely thrilled, he puts a lot of effort in and he’s happy to get rewarded for it,” Tony said.

“They’re a Premier League club, currently in the top half of the league and he’s grown up watching them so it’s a dream come true.”

He added: “For him and the club it’s great – they want local lads as every academy does, fans love a local boy coming through, and for him he’s got his foot on the ladder.”

Will has signed for the u14’s, but his results in the fitness tests wouldn’t look out of place in any u18’s squad in the Premier League, scoring highly in the bleep test and agility tests. He also holds his district record for the 1500m time.

This recent news comes as a big step up for Will, who did have trials with Blackburn and Bolton a couple of seasons ago, but he now finds himself in a different world.

Everyone at UK Football Trials would like to congratulate Will and his family on this brilliant news and wish him good luck with his football going forward at Burnley.