Burnley youngster Howieson receives top award

The award, promoted by the League Football Education, reflects Howieson’s educational achievements and commitment to the LFE’s Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (ASE) in tandem with his burgeoning playing role with the Clarets.

“It’s great news for Cameron and very well deserved,” said Burnley’s Academy Manager Jason Blake.

“We are talking about a player who has had regular first-team involvement in training, who has travelled with the team recently and played for his country in the Olympic Games in the summer.

“After having no break he came back for the season a little bit later than the rest but despite doing all these things has managed to maintain his education programme and has been doing additional sessions to his college programme, which does him massive credit.

“With all the additional things he has been doing, to maintain his devotion to his education, as well as kicking on on the pitch, is a great example to all the players in the Academy that no matter what stage they are at they invest time off the pitch to protect their futures.”

All the young players at Burnley study ‘A’ levels or ASE, a two-year NVQ course in sports performance, on a day-release basis in conjunction with their football training as scholars under the guidance of youth coach Terry Pashley.

Howieson - who has won the award for December - signed a professional contract with Burnley last summer after making his first-team debut in April but has continued his education in line with the club’s other second-year scholars.

The 18-year-old, who became a full international for New Zealand last season, also marked December by helping the Clarets beat Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup third round, scoring one of the goals in a 4-3 win at Old Trafford, and was part of Burnley’s travelling first-team squad for their FA Cup tie at Barnsley earlier this month.

The young Kiwi will receive a trophy, certificate and set of Nike sportswear after following in the footsteps of Clarets’ teenager Archie Love, who won the award in November, 2011.

*The Sporting Excellence (ASE) Programme came into existence in June 2004 and is managed by League Football Education (LFE), a partnership organisation created between The Football League and The PFA.

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