A former schoolboy development and senior first team player for Leicester Road FC has been awarded a professional contract with English Football League Division 1 club Coventry City FC.

Prolific striker Jordan Ponticelli (18), who was nurtured at the Hinckley-based club for three seasons age 13-16, has been rewarded after scoring 20+ goals so far this season for the Sky Blues Under-18s and Under-21s – and is now training with the senior first team.

He explains: “I’ve always wanted to make a career out of football and scoring goals, so this first, proper senior contract is brilliant news. It’s been hard work but I always believed in myself and have had some good guidance during my formative years. I have fond memories of my time at Leicester Road FC because they have a very good youth policy and it was there I converted from being a right sided midfielder to an out-and-out centre forward.

“My first season was pretty ordinary, as I was finding my feet up front, but then in the second season for the Under 16s (as a 15 year old) it all clicked and I scored 33 goals and we won the County Cup. I was then able to miss out the Under 18s and progress straight to the senior first team and I did pretty well there too and properly learnt how to be a No. 9 and all the physical side of things.”

LRFC’s Head of Football, Neil Lyne, adds: “Jordan’s potential was clear to see from such an early age, in that through the training and games programme we have here at the football club, we had to challenge him further by playing him up an age group. Even then he would continue to display all the attributes required and specific qualities such as speed, strength, technically ability and knowing where the goal is - but he was also a grafter, willing to work extremely hard for the team.

“Jordan was always very focussed and determined as a person and when he was given his chance of playing in the first team here at Leicester Road (having to wait until he had his 16th birthday) he grasped the opportunity straight away. You just knew that this was only the beginning for him as he continued to show a calm and mature level headedness as he was learning his trade.

“When and where Jordan’s busy schedule allows, he continues to drop into Leicester Road games which tells you a lot about the young man. He will always remain a part of the Leicester Road footballing family and we’re all delighted for Jordan and wish him every success for the future.”

Jordan first joined Coventry City FC as a youth player in the 2015/2016 season from former Sky Blues boss Gordon Strachan’s Rugby-based football foundation. He hit an impressive 39 goals in 37 appearances for the Strachan Football Foundation and during his time there also had trials at Premiership side Stoke City and leading Scottish club Hibernian.