King's Lynn teenager and KES Academy pupil wants to turn his passion for football into a career
A teenage footballer wants to turn his passion for the game into a career after being the latest student from King Edward VII Academy to play for the first team at King's Lynn Town Football Club.
KES student Paulius Falcao was named on the bench for Lynn's recent 2-1 home win over Hereford at The Walks.
Falcao, who has also played for the Heacham senior side this season, said: “My love for the sport is what drives me. I’m determined to take my passion into a career, and I’m doing this through working hard at my studies and practising football every day.
"My goal for the near future is to make an appearance for the first team in the National League North.
"This would be a massive step towards where I want to go and a proud moment for me and my family.
"A long-term goal of mine is to complete my sixth form studies with 3 A-Levels so I can go on to university.
"My ambition of becoming a professional footballer has grown stronger as there is a clear pathway through the academy.”
In his sixth year at KES, Falcao is studying for the Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity (equivalent to 3 A-Levels) with hopes to pursue a career in football.
He is part of the King's Lynn Town Academy set-up – a thriving partnership between the academy and the Linnets – which continues to go from strength-to-strength.
Academy director Alex Cross said: “Paulius has been training with the first team on Fridays where he has impressed the staff, which has been on the back of his significant development since the start of the season.
"He's a particularly humble character who continues to impress with his devotion to his studies and football.”
Jody Walters, head of PE at KES Academy, added: “The department is very proud of the achievements Paulius has made in his football career, as well the progress in his academic studies.
"He is a role model to our younger students at KES, and we are excited to see him flourish over the coming years and we hope he inspires others to follow in his footsteps.”
Those sentiments were added to by fellow PE teacher Ross McNeil and KES principal Sarah Hartshorn.
Mr McNeil said: “Paulius has been a model pupil at KES, since he came to us in Year 7, and we are all really proud of his progress on the field and off the field.
"He displays excellent leadership, teamwork, passion and self-belief, and it’s great recognition of his hard work to be given this fantastic opportunity.”
KES Academy principal Mrs Hartshorn added: “We’re proud to have Paulius at our school, his attitude to his studies at KES Sixth Form and football at King’s Lynn Town Academy is a beacon to all budding young footballers.
"The Year 7 students love when he offers to lead and coach in their PE lessons, he’s a real role model for them of what you can achieve with dedication and hard work.”
