Former Bradford City reserve team player Kelvin Bleau has won England recognition.

After coming through a series of trials, the 18-year-old will represent the English College Football Association in the new year in Rome.

Competition was fierce for the former City right back or right winger.

The selection process involved over 200 players but the ex-Valley Parade apprentice has made it through.

Now at Grimsby Institute’s Football Academy, things have started to happen for the Bank Top teenager.

Having played for Bradford Boys for five years and for West Yorkshire in 2006-07, Bleau was down to the final four boys to be retained earlier this year when at City.

However, the Bantams only kept three 17-year-olds and Bleau, who had played for their reserves for two seasons, was unlucky number four.

Since trying out for the Grimsby Institute Football Academy though, Bleau’s luck has changed.

Six boys were chosen from exit trials, and Bleau was among the selection, which meant free accommodation, as well as some money, to play for the English Colleges Football Association Premiership team.

The former Dixons pupil then progressed to several trials for the national team and an appearance at a Northern Festival.

From that, Bleau was picked to play for the North of England team, and that entailed a trip to Lilleshall in Shropshire where Bleau’s side faced the best from the south of England. Bleau was again picked and will go to Wales in the New Year before that trip to Rome in February.

The opposition there is expected to include sides from Estonia and Rumania.

Bleau, who scored for the Bantams’ second strings against Leicester City, is being coached at the institute by former Grimsby Town right back John McDermott, who was a fixture at Blundell Park for over 20 years.

* Oakbank defeated South Craven 3-2 in the first round of the Bradford Under-19 Schools’ Cup, Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College beating Parkside School, Cullingworth 5-0.

Parkside also bowed out of the Under-16 Cup 6-1 against Sir Titus Salt.