17th March 2001 Off to the Old Dart...Westfields Sports High School student Trent McClenahan is preparing for a soccer apprenticeship with west Ham --------------------------------------Story By Allan Cleaver WESTFIELDS Sports High student Trent McClenahan is about to embark on a great adventure - an apprenticeship with top English soccer club West Ham in London. The 16-year-old from Chipping Norton has been a member of Westfields' highly successful Commonwealth Bank Cup soccer team, the best schoolboy team in NSW. Jetting of for a big adventure He was singled out as a potential champion last year by West Ham scout Ken Schembri, a director of Blacktown soccer club, when he played in the national age championships. Trent has been to England twice for trials with West Ham and so impressed its coaches and directors that they offered him a three year apprenticeship He will have a busy life at West Ham as from July, mixing school lessons with an arduous schedule of soccer training. His parents will go to England with him to see him settled into a home with other West Ham apprentice players. Trent began playing soccer at four with Chipping Norton and later played as a junior with Blacktown, Sydney Olympic and Parramatta Power under-19 side. Trent has captained NSW teams in his age group for the past three seasons and led the under-15 side to the nationalchampionship last year. He now hope to emulate another Westfields Sports High boy, Harry Kewell, in making a name for himself in English soccer in the next few years. Westfields soccer coach Trevor Morgan is confident Trent will do well. "He is a very mature player for his age, has good leadership skills and knows how to cope with pressure on the field", he said. Trent said: "I'm very excited about going to West Ham, but I really have mixed emotions - it will be sad to leave my family and friends behind. Trent is the eighth Westfields player to join English clubs. With thanks to Fairfield Advance Copyright © 1999-2001 Westfields Sports High School. All TradeMarks belong to their Owners.