16-year-old Rory Preston is no stranger when it comes to attending UK Football Trials events whether that be 1-day trials or 5-day camps. Utility player Rory enjoys UK Football Trial events as he gets that all important exposure to many football clubs and scouts that Rory feels you just don’t get at grassroots level.

In 2023/2024 Rory attended our 1-day trials and had the opportunity to trial for many clubs such as Sheffield Utd, Rotherham, Port Vale and Barnsley. A Rory’s Sheffield Utd trial he was lucky enough to spend the summer period training and playing within the club’s academy. We asked Rory what his trial experience was like and he had this to say….”I was treated like one of the current academy players. The lads were great, and the coaches were excellent. I learned so much and played matches against Arsenal, Rotherham, Nottingham Forest, Chesterfield and Mansfield. Sheffield Utd bought me in as a centre back because of my ball playing ability, it was my first real test as a centre back and I loved being the next John Stones for a period. We won all 5 games I played in.” Following this Rory attended some more 1-day trials in 2024 and has been approached by Chesterfield and Woking and is awaiting opportunities with both of these clubs.

After spending the summer at Sheffield Utd, we asked Rory what he felt that he learned from such a great opportunity. “That I can succeed at Academy level, and it just takes toughness to keep battling. Academy football is intense as you are training at twice the volume of grass roots and matches are well prepared and executed. It’s essential to keep pushing for feedback because it is not always readily available.”

Speaking about Rory’s UK Football Trials experience he mentioned that “At the trial the level was varied, several players at my level and others trying hard. In my 3 trials I have always enjoyed the challenge of the level of competition. I loved the 1-day events as they are intense, and you have to be on the ball for 3 hours. But the week trial is so well organised, and you learn a lot about the world of football and how to become a footballing person”

We then asked Rory what made him decide to attend a UK Football Trials event and would he recommend us to any other players looking for opportunities and he said firstly that his dad found us on the internet and decided that it would be a perfect way of getting Rory close to academy clubs and scouts that his grassroots club wasn’t able to provide. Rory then went on to say that he would definitely recommend UK Football Trials because it has given him such exposure to what football is really like in the UK, something that playing week in/week out at grassroots simply cannot achieve. Rory has also met so many great new friends from all over the world.

So, what’s next for Rory? Following Rory’s summer trial with Sheffield Utd his details were passed onto Rotherham and both Barnsley and Port Vale became interested and offered trials to Rory. Rory is dedicated, focused and working hard to keep fit to try earning himself that all important scholarship with a football club.

We extend our best wishes to Rory during this important period of his football journey, and we look forward to seeing how he gets on in the near future. What an achievement to be of interest by all of these clubs!

Rory Preston – Aged 16 - Scouted by various clubs and spent the summer @ Sheffield Utd