Lewis to live the American dream
Living the American dream is not the usual career path for all teenage lads, but a footballer from Ingoldisthorpe will be doing just that when he flies to the United States of America next month.
Talented goalkeeper Lewis Herbert, 17, is off to Onondaga college in New York state for an academic/sports scholarship.
The youngster will have the opportunity to combine his studies alongside playing high level football and training and, if he makes sufficient progress, he is hoping to extend his learning for a further two years.
On his big opportunity, Herbert said: “It means everything to me to be accepted for a sports scholarship.
“It means I can progress my playing career and gain some very useful experience playing college football.
“My main ambition is to keep playing football at the highest level possible and to do this I need the extra challenge that playing in America will give me.
“I will be training for at least four hours every day with top quality coaches.
“The playing season is short and intense but sometimes there is four games a week, all of this hopefully will push me on to the highest level possible.”
Last season, the shotstopper was part of King’s Lynn Town Football Club’s under-18 side in the Western Division of the Thurlow Nunn Youth League.
He started playing football as a six-year-old for Heacham Youth, before moving on Reffley where he helped his team to County Cup glory and a number of other successes.
Herbert, who has been studying a diploma in coaching at Lynnsport since leaving high school, was also part of King’s Lynn Community Football set up and enjoyed a year playing for the county side, which included a successful tour to Holland.
He went on to feature for King’s Lynn Elite in the Nerf League, under Dan Buhlemann, before playing for the Linnets’ under-18 team.
The goalkeeper, who would like to become a coach or teach disadvantaged children should his football career path not work out, would love to follow in the footsteps of former King’s Lynn player Dominic Dwyer.
“Dominic Dwyer broke his right foot three times and was told by doctors that he would never be physically capable of playing at a professional level,” said Herbert.
“He went to Junior College and University in America, ended up becoming an American citizen and is having a fantastic career.”
The teenager, who attended the Alderman Peel High School in Wells, models himself on Manchester United number one David De Gea between the posts.
Herbert said: “I model myself on David De Gea.
“I like the way he has progressed from joining Man Utd with a poor attitude and to turn it around to being one of the best in the world.”
