Trials for Nike's ‘The Chance' initiative took place in Queensland the other week, in Victoria and New Zealand last week and will arrive in NSW and go back to New Zealand this week, and FourFourTwo will be in attendance to assess the top contenders from the Sydney trial.

The top 24 players from the regional trials will then descend on Canberra at the end of September to decide who will go over to England to play for the opportunity to join the Nike Academy in London.

The Nike Academy offers non-contract players unattached to professional clubs a chance to enter the professional game through world-class coaching and games against elite academies and professional reserve teams. Since the academy's start in 2009, eight players in the UK have received professional contracts.

The best 100 players from across 40 countries will then be invited to a final trial in England, where they will compete for one of eight international places in the Nike Academy. The eight who are chosen will have their expenses paid to come and live in the UK for a year starting in July 2011 and be a full-time member of the Nike Academy.

 

"I have been to all of the trials in Australia for "The Chance" to win a scholarship to the Nike Academy in England," said head scout Ron Smith.

"To say I have been pleasantly surprised by the standard of some of the players is an understatement. If I was still the Head Coach of the AIS I would have no hesitation in offering some of these players a scholarship.

"Given the opportunity to develop I feel confident a few of the lads I have seen could play for Australia and I have a good track record for spotting and developing talent," added Smith.

To find out more about the lads taking part, head to the players' profiles here. Check back online here too later this week to see coach and player interviews, plus photo galleries, from the second Sydney trial.