A TALENTED young footballer is looking to balance his love of the sport with a promising accountancy career when he appears on a new TV show.

Rio May, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, will join the Jamie Vardy Academy in June – a programme to showcase promising amateur footballers.

He joins 42 other hopefuls who will be followed by a camera crew as they take part in the one-week residential programme which aims to showcase non-league talent and get them professional signings.

However, the talented 20-year-old is keeping his options open as he pursues his AAT accountancy qualifications at Middlesbrough College.

The gifted footballer said: “It’s my dream to be a professional footballer, and the opportunity with the Jamie Vardy Academy is a really good chance for me.

“At the same time I’ve always taken studying very seriously. To be honest, I’d never envisaged being an accountant, I always thought I’d become a PE teacher, but I’ve really found my feet with accountancy.

“Throughout school I was strong in maths and IT and this career is a combination of those two things.”

The centre back has played since he was six – first for junior team Whinney Banks and later finding success with Middlesbrough Academy from the age of 15.

He subsequently played for Guisborough Town, Billingham Synthonia and most recently signed for Whitby Town in summer 2016.

Now he will travel to Manchester City’s training ground for the programme, which will put participants in front of scouts from all over the world.

The show will give an insight into how coaching and selection is carried out in the professional ranks.