Find out more about the Whitgift School squad which flew out to South Africa this week to take part in the Danone Nations Cup.
Nathan Baxter: Nathan is a keen all-round sportsman who was scouted by Chelsea FC at the age of 7. He has played all of his football for Chelsea within the FA Academy system including several tournaments throughout the UK and Europe. Although the Chelsea goalkeeper, Nathan supports West Ham.
Oscar Melbourne: Oscar started playing football when he was six years old at a club called Bantamns and then joined Kingstonians. In his first year at Kingstonians they won the Surrey 7-a-side Cup. He now plays for Carshalton FC as well as the School team.
Joshua Grant: Joshua is a strong right sided defender who started playing football for Chelsea Development Squad at the age of six. He has since progressed to the full Academy and is now in the Under 12 team.
Joshua Anderson: Josh is a strong centre back who can also play left and right back. He began playing football when he was six. Last season his Sunday team won the Surrey Cup & the League. During the same season he represented Croydon district where they won the Surrey District Cup and then he was selected to represent Surrey County. Most recently, he has been offered a six week trial at Tottenham Hotspur Academy.
Reiss De Meza: Reiss began playing football aged four and started playing competitively when he joined “Epsom Eagles FC” (local football club) aged 6. During his two seasons with Epsom he won lots of tournaments playing mainly on the left wing. Reiss was scouted by six professional football clubs, with five offering him to sign for them. He chose Crystal Palace FC (CPFC), where he plays mainly in Central Midfield. He has been with CPFC since he was eight years old and is now in his second year at Whitgift School. Last year he was also selected to play for Croydon District!
Luke Dreher: Luke football started playing football at the age of five as an under age player for a local club called Beacholme Colts where he won a trophy for the youngest player ever to play for the team. After a year he was spotted by Carshalton Athletic and spent a season playing for them before moving to Epsom Eagles FC. At the age of seven, he was invited to join the Chelsea Development Centre, as well as the Fulham Development Centre with whom he trained, in addition to playing for Epsom Eagles for 2 years. In 2007 Luke was asked to trial for Crystal Palace Academy and was immediately offered to sign for Crystal Palace to play as an U9 Academy player. He has just started his fourth season at Crystal Palace in a midfield position.
Tyler Meyer: Tyler moved to England with his family when he was five years old from South Africa. He started playing football on the school playground and joined Redhill Football Club at age six playing there for two successful seasons as a defender. He then moved to his local village club Merstham Football Club and played in the midfield. He made the U9 Epsom and Ewell Cup Final and went on to end runners up in Division 1 and win a promotion to the Premier Division. He had a successful season in the Premier Division where he played on the left mid-field. During this time he was invited to train at Charlton Athletic Youth Football Academy.
Luis Beckford: Luis is a strong and quick striker who has been a top scorer with both School and club teams he has played for. His recent Junior club is Beacons F.C. but has received praise from a number of pro clubs.
Dylan Burke-Hamilton: Dylan started playing competitive football at the age of six when he was invited to join the Chelsea F.C. Development Squad. Since then he has also played for Kingstonians and AFC Wimbledon but is now currently with Epsom Eagles. He was a key member of the Whitgift side that won the Danone ESSA Cup at Stamford Bridge in May 2010 and also the Surrey Cup winning side.
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