Arvin Appiah says playing schools football was a critical part of his journey into professional football at Nottingham Forest - and an important factor in keeping him on the right path as a young man.
The teenager is delighted to see the Reds forge a partnership that will secure the future of the Nottingham Schools Football Association, at a time when schools football had been under real threat due to budget cuts.
Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis has been at the forefront of a new collaboration, which will see Forest bridge the funding gap and ensure schools football continues in Nottingham for the foreseeable future.
And Appiah, 18, is pleased that other young players will have the opportunity to follow the same path as he did when he was younger - a path that he says lead him away from negative influences when he was growing up.
“I played for the City boys at under-11. There was a trial and we played a few matches - a week later you got a letter, to let you know if you were selected,” said Appiah. “I was so proud to get that letter and my family were proud of me as well.
“There were a lot of talented players involved and, whether it was in training or in the matches on a Saturday, you just wanted to impress.
“It got me away from all the wrong things in my area. I was busy playing football all the time, without being distracted by anything else.
“I really wanted to play football when I was young and playing for the City boys side meant so much to me at the time.
“I played with a lot of my friends at under-11 age group, which was really good for me.
“It is only me that has carried on the journey this far and I will keep working hard to get where I want to be.
“But playing for that side was a really important part of my journey so far and I am really happy that others will get that same opportunity in the future now.”
Appiah believes there is a historical connection between schools football and Forest, with numerous players, including Garry Birtles, Wes Morgan, Jermaine Jenas and Julian Bennett all having represented the schools side, on their way to forging a professional career in the game.
“I think you can see the connection that runs through it, when you look at the number of players who have gone on to have professional careers,” he said.
“And it is great that Evangelos Marinakis has ensured that will continue, with this partnership.
“You want to see these young players who have talent get to continue playing in the side that I did; to have that experience that I was lucky enough to have.
“There is a lot of talent in Nottingham and you do not want to see that go to waste.”
