A YOUNG Askam footballer has been selected for Macclesfield FC Elite Academy.

Jayden Anderson, who turned 14 in January, is a member of Askam United FC’s grassroots U14s squad.

He will soon be playing for Macclesfield after impressing coaches during the trials for their new academy.

FOOTBALLER: Jayden Anderson has been picked for Macclesfield FC Elite Academy

FOOTBALLER: Jayden Anderson has been picked for Macclesfield FC Elite Academy

Noticing an invitation to attend trials last year, Jayden went down in April for three nights of training before receiving an email confirming his new place.

His father, Terry Anderson, a coach at Askam, described how proud he was of his son’s accomplishments.

Terry said: “I’m so unbelievably proud of him for everything he does, and this has been such an amazing achievement for him.

“He’s been playing for Askam since 2019. Before that he played at Myerscough College in Preston and for Swarthmoor FC before that.

“He also trained with Carlisle development.

“He has been doing this for a long time now. He began playing when he was about four years old. We’re a very football family so he’s always been around it.

“We saw an invitation for Macclesfield in 2020. They had fallen out of the league in September last year, so they changed from Town to FC. They wanted to start a new academy up from scratch and grow the team.

“They invited some trialists and I put his name down.

FOOTBALLER: Jayden pictured alongside his team mates at Askam, (front row far right)

FOOTBALLER: Jayden pictured alongside his team mates at Askam, (front row far right)

“He went out there for three nights and on Saturday, he got an email from them saying he’d been selected for their Elite development squad, as part of the academy.

He will play in August or September, depending on restrictions, and take it from there.

“He even had trials at Barrow in October but Covid put a halt to that.

“As his dad it’s so good to see him rewarded for his hard work. He enjoys playing football so much. His brother Curtis is on the TV playing with Wycombe Wanderers so he’s always been exposed to it.

“He’s more the strong silent type, but we can tell he’s excited.

“His kit just arrived and he’s really chuffed to get started with training and get started with Macclesfield. Can’t wait to see where it’ll lead him.”