Perth footballer Sonny Simpson earns All-America first team selection after impressive performances Stateside

On the football pitches of north-western New York State operates a centre-half going from strength to strength and ready to kick on further.

It is a far cry from the local park down in St Madoes where he grew up playing the sport but former Perth High School student Sonny Simpson is loving every step of the journey.

He has proudly been pulling on the colours of Genesee Community College which, despite being in New York State, is actually around six hours from the bright lights of Manhattan and sits far nearer the Niagara Falls of Canada.

Sonny’s adventure across the pond has proved incredibly rewarding so far and, recently, he received word of a special honour following a host of top performances.

The 19-year-old caught the eye over the past few months to be named in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III All-America First Team.

And now he is likely to receive offers to write the next football - and of course educational - chapter of his American dream across two more years.

“Right now I’m sending emails to coaches in NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division One to try and get an offer for my next two years,” explained Sonny.

“I have been talking to Division One schools and I’m hoping I can get a good offer and join one of their programmes. If I can do that, it shows you off at the highest level across America.

“Most recruits want to be committed in January or February time so you can get to grips with everything.

“I’m in off-season now so I’m in the gym every day trying to get physically better.

“I’m calling coaches every day and have sent around 250 emails so far. I’m really trying to spread my name out there as far as possible.

“Hopefully someone can see what I see in