St Wilfrid's Sixth Form Student, Tim Rivers,

Selected for England School Under 18s

St Wilfrid's Sixth Former, Tim Rivers believes his decision to turn down Brighton & Hove Albion for a two year scholarship to concentrate on his education has been vindicated following his selection for the English Schools Under 18s Squad for this season's Centenary Shield. 

Tim was offered a place with Albion in 2007 but made the difficult decision to further his education so he had something to fall back on should his football not work out for him.

Tim comments, "I was at Brighton for three years from under 14s to under 16s.  They offered me a two year scholarship but at the time I wasn't enjoying my football as much as I wanted to and it would have meant I wouldn't have been able to do my A Levels, which I wanted to do. I balanced it up and felt that if, in two years, I got injured or released I would be at the same stage. I was 15 at the time and I spoke to my parents, especially my Dad who was quite keen for me to take the scholarship, but looking back we both realise it may have been the right decision. Last year I was able to play in the Conference and this year in the Conference South.  If I was at Brighton I would probably be playing in the youth team.  I have been able to play at a better level. It justifies that maybe it was the right decision because this opportunity would not have come around if I wasn't at school."

Tim, who can play in mid-field or up front, has scored twice for Lewes this season despite a number of injury problems.  He was selected for England following a series of trials, culminating at Lilleshall last weekend when the final 18-man squad was announced.

The Centenary Shield comprises of four matches, starting away to Northern Ireland on February 26th, followed by games against Wales at Wrexham, then Scotland at Carlisle's Brunton Park and finally Republic of Ireland at Burton Albion.  The latter two will be shown live on Sky.

Before then, the squad will play two games in Spain, against the Malaga under 17 side and the full Gibraltar national team.  There will also be a 10 day trip to America in April and a match against New Zealand.

St Wilfrid's will be supporting Tim and the team all the way!