Two students from Windsor and Slough have won football scholarships to America.

Football mad 18-year-old Staines Town FC reserve goalkeeper Patrick Moore of Windsor and Omar Riaz, 20, from Aldborough Spur, Slough have been given the chance of a lifetime.

Patrick has been a goalkeeper since he was 8. The Chelsea fan has gained an A* in PE and a sports diploma at Windsor Boys’ School.

The sportsmen have won their places at US colleges via a not-for-profit placement system that helps British students find American soccer (association football) scholarships that aren’t available at universities in the UK.

Patrick, who is going to America to study for a physical education degree, heard about the scholarships from some friends. He secured his place by sending a DVD of his goalkeeping skills to America. He is heading to Mason City, Iowa and will be studying at the North Iowa Area Community College and playing for the Trojans.

Omar will be going to New York where he will be playing for the Cayuga Community College men’s soccer team. Omar is a disillusioned Arsenal fan who has now started supporting Barcelona. In America, he is hoping to study business and sport and he said: “I have never been to the USA before, I cannot wait.”

Pass4Soccer Network found them their places. For more information call 0191 229 5236