AN AMBITIOUS young footballer who started honing his skills in Rugby is off to America to pursue his dream.
Dan Coles, 18, is heading to the USA after being offered a football scholarship at an American university.
In August, the former student of Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College will pack his boots and jet over the Atlantic as he heads to Carson Newman University in Tennessee, where he will begin a four-year football scholarship that will combine playing football with academic studies.
Talented sportsman Dan left Avon Valley in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, having played for the school team and at county and district level.
He went on to join the Rugby Town Academy – which has since moved to Rugby Borough Academy – and went from strength to strength under the tutelage of the academy’s coaches, becoming an integral part of the academy’s team.
In December 2021, Dan was part of the academy team that faced Cheltenham Town FC in the FA Youth Cup third-round – one of just two teams from outside the football league to progress to that stage of the competition.
Although his team was knocked out of the competition, they still made history as it was the furthest the academy had progressed.
Dan has also regularly played semi-professionally for Lutterworth Athletic FC as vice-captain.
Now Dan’s footballing journey is set to continue in the States.
Avon Valley Headteacher Alison Davies said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Dan, who has continued to pursue his footballing dream since leaving us at AVS.
“As a school we’ve built up a fantastic link with Rugby Borough FC Academy and many of our students are progressing at the academy, just like Dan has.
“We all wish Dan the very best of luck for when he heads to America in August.”
