A 14-year-old from Londonderry has realised his dream of signing for Liverpool.
Conor Quigley will begin a scholarship with the Reds on his 16th birthday in 18 months time.
The Northern Ireland schoolboy international honed his skills from an early age with Trojans FC in Derry, joining the club at the age of five.
More recently, he captained St Columb’s College to their Northern Ireland Schools Cup triumph.
His father Liam said the family were “over the moon” that Conor would be joining a top club like Liverpool.
“We are just delighted” he said. “We are very proud of him and the hard work starts now.
“He has been travelling over and back for the last year and a half and now he is actually signed,” he added.
“They asked him to move over this year. We have declined that option and he is going to go in the summer of 2013.
“He will move over and live there then,” he explained.
“When the new season starts in August he will go over for two days a week for training and games with the Under-15s and Under-16s.
“We are just over the moon. We are big Liverpool supporters and I actually help run the supporters club in the city so this is brilliant,” he said.
A spokesman for Trojans said Conor had made “another significant step in achieving what many young footballers can only dream of.”
He added however that the young Derry lad remained very grounded.
“The talented defender is very dedicated, as he combines his studies with his football, and his ability, attitude and commitment are key to his continued success.
“Conor won his first trophy with Trojans aged 10. Since then he has been Player of the Year on three occasions, as well as winning numerous other awards within Trojans.
“Conor is not only an excellent ambassador, for Trojans, but the Derry and District League, and Northern Ireland.
“Conor has fantastic support from his family and friends and, without the commitment and dedication of his mother Siobhan and father Liam, he would never have been able to achieve this.
“All of his Trojans family and friends would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Conor on all of his achievements to date and wish him every success for the future with Liverpool,” said the spokesman.
Conor has played in the Foyle Cup and it was at this tournament that he was first spotted by Liverpool and invited to the club’s development centre in Belfast, which he attended for three years.
He has represented Northern Ireland in his age group for the past three years, playing left back and in the centre of defence.
He has played in tournaments in England, Luxembourg and, most recently, Turkey when he captained the Under 15 team.