Academy Success Stories

Chris Rumisek

Selected by semi-professional side Maine Rd for training and signed to play for their first team following the head coach watching one of the academy fixtures.

Benjamin Hjun Woong Seol

Invited to train with League one side Oldham Athletic following the August showcase event in Manchester.

Tom Jones

Trialed with a number of semi-professional clubs and is now playing with Barnton FC.

Archie Floate

Trialed with TNS in the welsh premier league after recommendation from the IHM head coach.

James Prescott

recommended for county trials by the head coach at IHM.

Clement Fullington

Selected by semi-professional side Maine Rd for training and signed to play for their first team following the head coach watching one of the academy fixtures.

Sudesh Marner

Invited to train with League one side Oldham Athletic following the August showcase event in Manchester.

Aykhan Suleymanli

Invited to a trial with Blackburn Rovers Fc from the EFK Championship following the October showcase event, represented his country in the U17’s Euro qualifiers.

Zac Lennox

Represented Shropshire County representative team following the academy coaches recommendation.

McDonald Ferguson

Recommended for county trials but the head coach at IHM, played with professional club NFC when back home during the summer break and trials for the National U17s side.

Eric Behran

Eric Behran’s, an IH Manchester goalkeeper signed for Championship club Derby County FC. Eric, who showed potential all season on the IH Manchester programme. First came to the attention of scouts at the Platt lane complex, home of the Manchester City youth academy. During his first month on the programme here in Manchester, Eric impressed the goalkeeper coaches of Manchester City that much that they invited him in to train with the clubs academy goalkeepers on a regular basis. In this time Eric received some top class coaching from the city goalkeeper coaches alongside training daily with the IH Manchester team and being our No 1 in matches. Over the course of the programme Eric earned himself several opportunities going on trial with Aston Villa, before visiting Derby County FC. Derby straight away took to Eric with head of recruitment Craig Short saying he had come into the team and preformed brilliantly. Eric spend several weeks travelling to Derby to join the team at weekends for matches, which in itself is a great experience for a 16 year old young player. However after a few weeks of discussions Eric has finally been offered a scholarship at the club and has put pen to paper.

Carlos Mora

Our IH Manchester goalkeeper, was in demand from two local pro clubs during his time with us. Carlos trained with the goalkeeping staff at Everton FC and visited Bury FC for a trial session.

While participating in a PFA coaching sessions at Carrington Carlos was also spotted by a highly respected coach who recommended him to Rochdale FC where he has now visited for a training session.

Carlos caught the eye of a few coaches in his time here in Manchester.

Matt Jacobs

Following on from the UK football trials, straight after the session, even before he’d left the pitch, Matt Jacobs of IH Manchester was approached by the Witton Albion reserve team manager to go in on trial. Matt, 22 from the US has come on the IH Manchester programme to progress his football career, knowing that age is against him and to get a foot into non – league soccer in the UK would be a great start. So this is a chance matt has to take to try to get on the books of the non – league side and see if he can make his way up from there.

Vyankatesh Kharage

An excellent example of a great success story is Vyankatesh Kharage, who was inspired to open his own academy back home after his experience with us here in Manchester.

Read his letter below:

“The year I spent at the Manchester Academy was one of my best experiences so far. The state-of-art facilities and the coaches helped me to become the player I am today.

During the academic BTEC Sport science classes I learned a lot about sports and fitness, which I implement in the sessions of my academy.

It was also nice to be recognized for my hard work by staff and to receive the Student of the Year award. It gave me great confidence.

As part of the program I had the opportunity to obtain the English FA level 1 coaching badge, and while doing this I realized I could use the certificate to coach kids back in India.”

Carlos Acuna

PRO SUCCESS! Former IH Manchester academy player, Carlos Acuna (from Venezuela) now on Trujillanos FC U20 squad. Trujillanos FC are a professional club in the Primera División in Venezuea. His performances in training and games were always top level and he showed that he had ability in every training session. During his time in Manchester Carlos studies English and became very proficient and fluent. After leaving the IH Manchester programme on the Christmas break to head back home to Venezuela Carlos trialed out a clubs near his home town and is now doing what he wanted to do, playing professionally.

Carlos has a very bright future ahead of him in the game, so keep an eye out for him in the headlines in future.

Lawrence Hanna

Following on from a fixture against Accrington Stanley, and being watch by the IH Manchester staff and Accrington Stanley Head of recruitment over the initial few weeks of his course, Lawrence Hanna was invited to Accrington Stanley to train with the academy team. Head of recruitment Dave Bailey though his passion and commitment during the initial period of his course were great.