Archie earns a scholarship deal at Shrewsbury

Archie Elmore will leave home in the summer to start a two-year football scholarship at Sky Bet League One club Shrewsbury Town after receiving and accepting the offer earlier this year.

The 16-year-old was dealt a blow towards the end of last year when he was released by Coventry City, where he had played since first starting out, having first played for Ise Lodge in the Weetabix Youth League.

However, after going through numerous trials at other clubs as well as taking part in the EFL Exit Trials, which are set up to give footballers aged between 15 and 16 who have been released by their previous club, a second chance to make it as a professional, he was offered his opportunity with Shrewsbury.

It is the culmination of a number of years of hard work and long hours of travelling for the youngster and his family.

And his dad Nick said: “He was with Coventry all the way through the youth system.

“But he was told in October last year that they would not be offering him a scholarship.

“They emailed other clubs to let them know and I had 35 clubs getting in touch with me, asking him to go for trials.

“So there was a lot travelling for us and then he also had the EFL Exit Trials last month.

“But Shrewsbury had already been in touch by then and Archie went up there and spent some time in that environment.

“We had another eight clubs interested after the Exit Trials but he had another day or two at Shrewsbury and they offered him the chance before anyone else.

“He likes it there and they have really looked after him so he is excited for the summer.

“He really had a great time at Coventry. They were great with him and they taught him well.

“It was obviously disappointing that he was not offered anything by them but he has come back well from that and now he can look forward."