CANVEY’S promising midfielder Mitchell Gilbey has committed himself to their academy side next season despite interest from other local non-league clubs.
Following a successful first year that propelled him into the Ryman Premier side’s first team squad, the Stanford-based teenager will stay on and study for an NVQ, which is run by Chelmsford College at James Hornsby school in Laindon.
After picking up the academy’s players’ player of the year award, the English Colleges international said: “I have enjoyed the day to day training at the academy and the fact that we earn a wage doing it is great.
“I feel I have improved as a player and probably would not have made the first team or the national squad without being at the academy.”
It was a successful first year for the side who were promoted to the English Colleges FA premier division one as runners-up.
Academy manager Laurie Carter said “Considering we turned the programme around in six months to get a squad of players together to compete was a challenge, to see them then progress and gain promotion in their first year is a credit to their attitude and commitment.”
For more information on SOCA call Chelmsford College on 01245 293031.
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