Three members of the highly successful T6 Football Academy set-up in Middlesbrough are celebrating after being called up to represent England Under-18 Schoolboys in this year’s Centenary Shield.

Goalkeeper Joel Neale, centre-back Patrick McGowran and midfielder Joe Kennedy came through a series of trials with flying colours and will take part in the four-game tournament, starting against Scotland at Truro on Friday February 28. This will be followed by games against Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales over the coming months as they battle it out for the historic trophy.

All three players are part of the elite T6 Academy, run in an exclusive partnership between Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust (NPCAT) and Middlesbrough Football Club. The academy enables footballers who just miss out on joining professional clubs as school leavers to stay in the elite game with a full playing and training schedule alongside their studies.

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Joel is a second-year player and student at T6, while Patrick and Joe are first years. Six-foot-four-inch Joel, who is studying Double Engineering and Sport, has excellent distribution with his feet and is very commanding with crosses into the box.

Sport, Business and English Language student Patrick is an excellent passer who reads the game well and is extremely competitive in aerial duels as well as one-v-one situations. Joe, who is equally comfortable in centre midfield or on the right wing, is quick and powerful when travelling with the ball and has good all-round technical ability.

“This is a fantastic achievement for the boys and the academy,” said head of the football and sporting academy David McTiernan. “We are incredibly proud of Joel, Patrick and Joe. Being called up for the England Under-18 Schoolboys squad is a remarkable achievement and their dedication and hard work in training every day are really paying off.

“These young men have demonstrated exceptional skills and resilience throughout the trials. They exemplify what it means to be a part of this academy. The games will be an opportunity to showcase the talent that’s nurtured here at the T6 and we will all be cheering them on.

“Their success is a testament to the hard work they’ve put in, both on and off the pitch, but this is just the beginning, and we look forward to watching their journeys unfold as they continue to grow and develop in their football careers.”

The trio – who are among several T6 players being regularly watched by professional clubs – came through three trial stages, starting among 60 players picked from the north and 60 players from the south of England. All three made the cut down to 30 players from each region and then for a North v South trial game, from which the final 18-player squad was selected.

Joel has been given squad number 1, with Patrick taking the number 6 shirt and Joe number 7. They were all chosen in the starting line-up as England lost 3-1 to Australia at Hednesford Town FC on Friday, January 24.

NPCAT CEO Hugh Hegarty said: “Representing England at this level is an extraordinary accomplishment that highlights the vision and commitment we have at NPCAT to nurture the potential of every student, on and off the field.

“Our T6 Football Academy was founded with the ambition to provide young athletes with opportunities to thrive in their chosen sport while excelling academically. Seeing these young men reach the pinnacle of national selection is proof that this approach is working.

“I would like to thank our dedicated staff at the T6 Football Academy and across the trust, whose tireless efforts and belief in the students have been integral to their success. Equally, we must acknowledge the invaluable support of their families and the wider community, who have played a crucial role in this journey.

“We are proud of these students not just as footballers, but as role models for others within NPCAT as their achievements inspire our students to dream big, work hard and know that anything is possible with faith, determination and the right support. We will all be cheering them on as they represent our nation and demonstrate the values of NPCAT on a national stage.”

Last season Middlesbrough FC/T6 Academy under-19s clinched the National Football Youth League North-East Premier Division at just the second attempt. And the under-17 team made it an impressive double by lifting the National Football Youth League North East Championship trophy.

Backed by NPCAT and Boro, the T6 Academy boasts impressive facilities at its Phoenix Park home on Lacy Road, including high-quality grass and 4G pitches, a strength and conditioning suite including weights and cardiovascular areas and a video analysis room. As well as their football training, T6 students also study for qualifications including A-levels and BTECs. England’s Centenary Shield games will be live-streamed via the ESFA’s YouTube channel.