Doncaster Rovers goalkeeper Louis Jones has praised the National Citizen Service programme for giving him the skills to pursue his dream of playing for the club.
The 20-year-old is a step closer to turning out for the Yorkshire side, having completed NCS in 2015 before signing a contract with the Sky Bet League One club.
The programme provides young people aged 16-17 the chance to take on new challenges, experience exciting activities, make long-lasting friendships and develop vital skills that will support them later in life.
While it's not a common pathway for NCS graduates to go on to play professionally, this is exactly what happened to Jones, and the youngster believes his experience of NCS with Club Doncaster Foundation has given him the transferrable skills he uses on a day-to-day basis, both on and off the pitch.
"In football, there are a lot of decisions to be made as a goalkeeper, and decision making is key to the NCS experience," he said. "NCS was a great experience and helped me face new challenges head on and overcome my fears."
NCS have recently launched a campaign named 'Unstoppable Together', focusing on young people can come together to make a difference.
Jones is a great example of how NCS can develop skills to steer teens' careers in whichever direction they want, and was asked in an interview from a fellow graduate what makes him feel unstoppable.
"In a game when your adrenaline is pumping and you have saved a few shots, I feel like no-one on the pitch can do anything to beat me," he added.
Doncaster are among 20 other EFL and Premier League Clubs set to host an NCS Matchday in February, an annual event championed by the EFL Trust to celebrate the positive impact young people are having in local communities across England.
The club's first-team players will have an important role to play by warming up in NCS-branded t-shirts and meeting programme graduates.
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