The Pass masters
NORTH STARLETS’ DREAM US SCHOLARSHIP CHANCE
TWO Tyneside football starlets have won a dream chance to develop develop their fledgling careers across the Atlantic.
Samuel Costello and Tom Joyce will take up four-year football scholarships in the United States next month.
Ashington High School sixth-former Costello, who plays for Whitley Bay Under-21s, will be joining Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.
St Thomas More Blaydon pupil Joyce - who plays for Ryton and Crawcrook Allbion FC - will attend Catawba College in Sailsbury, North Carolina.
The pair will combine university studies with playing high-level football.
The dream trips were arranged with the assistance of PASS4Soccer Scholarships after Costello and Joyce peformed well in PASS4Soccer’s US Coach Showcase at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in December.
Costello will play for Tiffin’s Dragons football team.
He said: “I am looking forward to becoming a student athlete, studying, living and playing football in a different county which will be a great experience for me.
“I am going to study at Tiffin University because the campus, soccer programme and local area all look great - I cannot wait to get started.”
PASS4Soccer Director Daniel Gray said: “Samuel is attending a quality university in Tiffin.
“Last year they were one of the top teams in the country and I don’t see that changing this year.
“We have several of our clients who attend the university on scholarships and they speak highly of the environment there.”
Joyce will play for Catawba’s Indians team.
He said: “I decided to apply to study in the USA for a number of reasons. Firstly, I just wanted a new experience – the opportunity to live in a different country and experience a different culture while continuing my studies and playing football was one not to be missed.
“Add to this the opportunity of a scholarship and the package on offer from USA universities - it is an excellent option.
“I have loved playing football from the age of five and I have played with great players and worked with fantastic coaches.
“However, being at Catawba I will be able to focus on my football in a way which has not been possible to date.”
Gray said: “Tom is the perfect student-athlete.
“He has performed exceptionally well on the pitch while maintaining top grades in school which have helped him be awarded such a good scholarship.”
Places in the PASS4Soccer Network Programme are now available for students seeking to enter a US university soccer programme in August 2018 and August 2019.
PASS4Soccer will be holding an information and assessment day in Newcastle in October.
For more details, or to register, go online at www.PASS4Soccer.com or ring 0191 229 5236.