Teen star makes history signing on!

Ben Harley is looking forward to making his EVO-STIK League debut for Ossett Albion after becoming the first Northern Premier League Football Academy student to graduate to the club's first team.

The 16-year-old NPLFA star is pictured signing first team forms for the Yorkshire club's manager Andy Welsh at Queens Terrace on Monday.

The first year student was rewarded by Welsh for the impressive progress he's made so far this season, the highlights including playing for the EVO-STIK League North club's U19s and U21s and collecting the NPLFA's 'Player of the Month' accolade before Christmas with a 44 per cent share of the vote.

An NPLFA spokesman said: "Congratulations to first year Ossett Albion student Ben Harley who has signed first team forms for the Yorkshire club. Ben has had an impressive first year on and off the pitch for Albion, progressing to the U19s, U21s and now the first team and will be hoping to make his debut in the coming weeks."

The NPLFA was founded with the backing of the Football Association at five pilot clubs in September 2014 to provide career pathways into the football industry with youngsters studying on two year BTEC courses.

Still the only league-wide academy in English football combining sport with education and now expanded to 12 members clubs, the NPLFA is offering its fourth intake of students this season the chance to continue their education to degree level after teaming up with Loughborough College last summer to launch a new higher education partnership.

For further details and information on the football education programme and the benefits it can bring to your club visit the website at www.nplfa.co.uk or contact them at info@nplfa.co.uk.

Images courtesy John Hirst/NPLFA

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