Young Burnley star nets top award

Love, a second-year scholar at Turf Moor, receives the award given to young players throughout the Football League who have excelled educationally or in the workplace.

As well as pursuing a football career with the Clarets, Burnley’s scholars also follow an Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (ASE) Programme.

The two-year course sees Apprentices studying for an NVQ in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance with Archie taking an extra six modules to give him the opportunity to apply for a university place if he doesn’t earn a professional deal next summer.

In addition, the 18-year-old has given up his time to help Year Seven pupils in numeracy and literacy in the Playing for Success programme run at Turf Moor and has become a personal mentor for a Year Ten student in a local high school.

On the field, Manchester-born Archie, who came through the Clarets’ Centre of Excellence before signing a two-year scholarship deal, has made further impressive progress this season.

The powerful central midfielder is a key member of the Clarets’ youth team which is challenging at the top of the Youth Alliance North West table and still going strong in the FA Youth Cup, County Youth Cup and Alliance League Cup.

His performances have also earned him a place in the Scotland under-19 training squad and elevated him to the Clarets’ Reserve side, scoring his first goal at Central League level last month in a 6-0 win over Morecambe.

“It is a thoroughly deserved award,” said Clarets youth-team coach Terry Pashley.

“He is a very dedicated young player with a lot of ability who has made great strides since becoming a full-time player with us.

“Hopefully he will go on to good things and this is fitting recognition for his efforts on and off the football field.”

Jason Blake, Burnley’s Development Coach, added: “When you talk about players working hard and listening and wanting to learn, Archie is a great example.

“We want to produce players, but we want to produce the person first and I think Archie is a great example of that.

“The way he conducts himself is fantastic and if he is able to pass that onto some of the younger players then that’s going to be of great benefit to the club.

“He is a great role model for the younger players at the club and I am keen to see how he develops and kicks on.”

Archie will receive the award for November from club chairman Barry Kilby at half-time during the Clarets’ Boxing Day game against Doncaster Rovers at Turf Moor.