Being offered a contract at a full-time football club is an ambition of many young players - but when that moment arrived Garry Williamson turned it down in favour of chasing another dream.

Until this summer, Williamson had spent a total of four years with home-town team Darlington, including the last as a professional, and along with two other former apprentices, he was offered a further three months.

Goalkeeper Keith Finch and defender Graham Liddle both accepted, but Williamson - who attended Longfield School - made the brave decision to look ahead to a new opportunity.

And next month he begins a two-year football scholarship in the United States at Yavapai College, Phoenix, Arizona.

The scholarship is similar to a degree in that he will be studying daily, but will also be playing football every day in representing the college's team in a national league.

And because he was asked to attend the college by one its coaches, he doesn't have to pay a penny in tuition fees or accommodation.

Students who've applied for a place at the college are required to pay their own way.

Father, Jeff, is delighted with his son, who will be the only European on the scholarship.

He beamed: "You've got to be exceptional at your sport, not many people get selected to go on these scholarships from outside the US.

"He always had this dream of making it out there in the US, and to do it this way, playing football, is amazing," said Jeff.

When Williamson completes the scholarship in two years, he will have the opportunity to continue his education in another field, or he could be picked up by one of the professional US Major League Soccer clubs and a professional career with a club in England remains a possibility.