A BASINGSTOKE boy is fulfilling his dream of making his family proud by representing Great Britain in American football.

Corben Merton, 16, from Lychpit, tried out for the Great Britain U17 squad two years ago, having switched from playing American flag football to full contact, representing the Solent Seahawks, where he was noticed by scouts and invited to national trials.

He joined the national team and spent his 16th birthday in Norway, representing the country and celebrating his sweet 16th with a win.

A product of Costello school, Corben received interest from numerous high schools in the USA, keen to develop his sporting prowess, however, he turned them down in order to complete his studies in the UK.

Corben told the Gazette: "In all fairness, I didn't really think anything of it when I started. I just thought it was a fun thing to do on a Saturday or Sunday.

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"When I started getting good and exceeding beyond other teammates, I just thought I want to make money from doing what I love.

"The offers I received were tough to turn down, but I knew if I stayed in the UK, I could get even better and go to better high schools."

Speaking about his national call-up, Corben said: "When I found out I was part of the GB travel squad, I wasn’t surprised.

"I knew that I put in the work and had a good work ethic, which in turn made GB happen."

After completing his GCSEs, Corben moved to Bristol and is currently attending the American Football Academy while studying sports fitness and coaching.

He now plays for Rushmore Academy and Bristol Pride, as well as representing his country playing for Great Britain.

He intends to continue his studies in Bristol, train hard and secure an offer for either NFL (National Football League) or NFL Europe.

"My ambition for the future is just to make my family proud. No matter if I go to Division One, Two, Three, Junior College or GFL [German Football League]." 

Corben says he has his father to thank for his success, he told the Gazette: "I got into it [American Football] from my dad, I never really was an athletic kid, but when I went to my dad's he had the footballs and taught me how to throw.

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"Then I started watching it with him and he found flag clubs for me to join, which had exit pathways to UK colleges which led me to where I am now."

However, Corben admits that his success hasn't come easy: "I have faced a few setbacks.

"This season I have had challenges with my shins being in pain 24/7, which has led me to falling behind in practice.

"However, this has helped me to excel in the classroom and in the gym."

Inspired by the recent announcement that another man from Basingstoke, Travis Clayton, has joined an elite NFL training programme in New York which, if successful, could see him picked in a future NFL draft, Corben doesn't see why he can't have a similar future.

He said: "Travis Clayton's story did inspire me as more and more people from the UK are being seen by coaches in the States, and that makes me feel more confident that I can play football professionally."

The American Football Academy, much like the NFL Academy that Travis went to, is an excellent entry point for those looking to join the NFL so the plan is to remain there with his studies and try and secure an NFL or US College offer.