Former Merrist Wood Sports Student Signs for US Soccer Team

Former Merrist Wood (@MerristWood) Sports student, Léo Anthony, has been signed for US Soccer team FC Minneapolis after completing his degree in Sports Science on a scholarship programme in America. 

Léo studied BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport at Merrist Wood, successfully completing his course in 2017 before achieving a scholarship to study for a degree with the help and support of his tutors at Merrist Wood College.   

Having recently graduated from university, Léo has keeps in regular contact with his former Merrist Wood football tutor, Robbie Porter, and has always regarded Robbie as his mentor.  

Léo said: “My time in America has been an unforgettable experience and played a pivotal role in my success.  

Being able to go study and play in America has given me the opportunity to still pursue my goal of being a pro footballer while getting my degree.  

I have now graduated university with honours and left college football behind me having won a national championship, conference, and regional tournaments with individual awards of success along the way.  

Merrist Wood sporting programmes definitely started me on the right path of falling in love with the game, whether it was educating me on the sport itself in class or training with the coaches and staff members. 

I have just signed with FC Minneapolis in the UPSL (United Premier Soccer League) a pro development league in the United States where I hope to build up my credibility as a player and act as a stepping stone to my final goal of playing football for a living.  

I owe a big thank you to Robbie Porter, Football Academies Manager at Merrist Wood, for helping me get out to America and who has always helped me along the way, whether it was to let me come back and train to keep fit, giving me advice or checking up on me.”

Léo’s Merrist Wood tutor, Robbie Porter, said;

“I’m immensely proud of what Léo has achieved since gaining his Level 3 qualification in Sport at Merrist Wood College.  

We are always delighted to help students secure scholarship opportunities both in the USA and in Europe, and Léo is a great example of how successful these programs can be.   

It just goes to show that dedication, ambition and hard work really does pay off and I wish him all the very best for a successful career.”