AUCKLAND – Central United teenager Cameron Lindsay leaves for England this week to sign with Ryan Nelsen’s Blackburn Rovers.
The New Zealand U-16 defender has landed an all-expenses-paid four year scholarship with the English Premiership Club.
After impressive performances in the Nike Cup finals in Manchester, visiting scouts from Premier League club Everton offered the Central United player a trial.
Kiwi footballing icon Wynton Rufer – the head of the Wynrs academy which Lindsey has been a part of since age 6 – arranged further trials at Blackburn and Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers.
Lindsay was offered scholarships to both clubs but chose Blackburn because of its Kiwi connection with captain and All White Ryan Nelsen spending time with the promising Northcote College youngster on his visit to the Lancashire club.
"I talked to Ryan for about an hour," Lindsay told the North Shore Times, “He gave me a signed shirt and told me just to enjoy myself."
Nelsen will play an important mentoring role for Lindsay as he studies and trains at the club.
Lindsay will begin in Blackburn’s U-16 side before progressing into the U-18s and is targeting the reserve team by his third year.
"After that it’s the senior side," Lindsay said.
Story courtesy of NZF media. For more information visit www.nzsoccer.com