Dartford-based North Kent College Sports Coaching and Performance students Frankie Shaw and Alfie Moynihan awarded prestigious football scholarships at Pratt Community College in Kansas and New York’s Jamestown Community College

Two Sports Coaching and Performance students from North Kent College have been awarded prestigious football scholarships to study and play in the United States.

Frankie Shaw and Alfie Moynihan, both 17 and based at the college’s Dartford campus, will be heading stateside this summer - Shaw to Pratt Community College in Kansas and Moynihan to Jamestown Community College in New York.

They will do so after they impressed during a trial held at the college by UK-based scholarship agency Global Sports Relations.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” said Shaw. “They came into college and ran a trial session.

“They watched us play and, if you were good enough, you’d go through a Zoom call to find out more.

“Then, they put together football clips to send to coaches in the US.

“After that, it all moved really quickly.”

For both, it’s the realisation of a lifelong dream and a reward for years of hard work, on and off the pitch.

“My college in Kansas has us training twice a day,” explained defender Shaw. “In the morning, it’ll be a gym session and, in the afternoon, it’ll be a football session and that’s every day.

“Then, Wednesday and Saturdays there are games so we travel for them and, between all of that, we have classes.

“It’s full-on but it’s what I’ve always wanted.”

The scholarships cover a large portion of their tuition, accommodation and even some meals, books and health insurance, which makes it a truly life-changing opportunity.

Attacker Moynihan added: “My schedule includes 13 hours of classes a week, five training sessions and two matches.

“It’s a proper league set-up and, depending on how we do, we can qualify for regional and national tournaments.”

Neither has visited their future campus yet but both have had virtual tours and