BEN Kearton is crossing the Atlantic to revive dreams of a footballing career which were dashed on his own doorstep, writes PETE OLIVER.

The 18-year-old from Blackburn was a member of Rovers' School of Excellence but wasn't kept on at Ewood Park.

His hopes of making the grade at Norwich City were also dashed when he had to pull out of a trial last season after contracting glandular fever.

But he has been thrown a lifeline by a university in the United States and will take up a place on a four-year soccer scholarship at the University of Daytona in Florida in a fortnight's time.

The central defender, who played at Clitheroe FC last season, will combine his football with a communications degree course and hopes to land a professional contract with a club in the U.S. League when he completes his studies.

"I'm very excited about it. It's a break at last and I will give it my best shot," said Kearton, who earned his place through an old friend at Blackburn College and an East Lancashire connection. Chorley's John Howarth is already into a scholarship at Daytona and mentioned Kearton's name when a vacancy came up for a central defender.

Coach David Gregson then asked his father Harold, who lives in Oswaldtwistle, to run the rule over Kearton, and after watching him in action for Clitheroe's reserve side, Gregson senior recommended the former St Wilfrid's School pupil. Kearton will now have twice-daily training sessions either side of study periods and play for Daytona in America's competitive inter-college competition. And he believes it's a good time to be playing soccer in the States, where the professional league is growing in maturity.

"It's meant to be a high standard and with the women's team winning the World Cup, the game is really taking off in a big way. It's up to me now. You will only get out of it what you're prepared to put in and I'm going to give it everything I've got," added Kearton, who jets out next week to acclimatise ready for the start of pre-season training.

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