A talented Shawbury teenager has been given the chance to fulfil his dream of playing professional football.
Matt Cohen, 16, a pupil at Wem’s Thomas Adams School, has been offered a two-year apprenticeship with current Championship leaders Stoke City, writes JAMES PUGH.
Matt, who can play either right back or centre half, was scouted by Stoke after playing for Shawbury under-nines and has been playing for their youth teams for seven years.
After receiving news of his apprenticeship, he got his first call-up to the Stoke reserve side and represented them against Walsall on Tuesday.
Jill Cohen, his mum, said: “The whole family are absolutely delighted and we are all very proud of him. His hard work and commitment has paid off.”
Matt also plays cricket for Wem – and is the second player from the club to receive an apprenticeship with a professional football club, following in the footsteps of Crewe Alexandra’s Chris Peel.
Matt’s brother Daniel, 15, is also a keen sportsman and plays football for Baschurch and cricket for Wem.