GOALKEEPER Thomas Nicholls is travelling to the USA this weekend to take up a prestigious football scholarship.

The 18-year-old from Broughton Hackett will be heading to Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, New York state.

The former Pershore High School pupil will be playing for the Wildcats team and studying business and sport.

Nicholls is an ex-Hartpury College student who has spent a year in the youth teams at Coventry and Aston Villa.

He has played youth football in the region for teams such as Peopleton, Drakes Broughton, Evesham and Inkberrow.

Nicholls said: “I have always wanted to play football in a foreign country at a high level. I was not 100% sure whether I wanted to leave behind my friends and family because I had good place at Cardiff and Exeter University.

“But I experienced one of the best weeks of my life in the middle of March on the PASS4Soccer US Tour which made me think I wanted to do it.

“I was surprised at the sheer physicality and speed of the American players as it is a much different playing style over there. I cannot wait to make new life-long friends and experience the culture of New York.”

His dad, Howard Nicholls, said: “Thomas will have the opportunity to combine his university studies alongside playing high level football for the next four years.

“It’s a very exciting time for Thomas.

“He has suffered a few injuries in recent years, including a broken wrist and he also had a stress fracture of the foot.

“When he was in the youth team at Aston Villa, he played against some very strong opposition such as Manchester United, West Ham and Chelsea.”

The Worcester-born-and-bred teenager’s achievement in winning such a high value scholarship and placement is in recognition of his academic achievements as well as his athletic ability and an impressive performance in the PASS4Soccer US Coach Showcase at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in December 2014.