Dan Hopper, son of former Carlisle United legend the late Tony Hopper, has taken another step towards emulating his father.
Young Dan is among five players from United’s under-16 age group who have joined the Under-18’s two-year scholarship programme.
In assessing Dan’s potential, the Academy manager Simon Friel, said: “Dan was recruited into the Academy as an U15 and has continued to develop and push on.
“Dan is a midfielder who looks to drive his team forward with strong runs on the ball and combine with team mates.
“He has good natural ability on the ball and can influence and impact games positively. He has a quiet but assured manner when on the pitch.”
As well as offering scholarships to the five Academy players United have also recruited three others from outside the county.
As well as midfielder Hopper, the four others from the Academy are goalkeeper Thomas Randall; defender Mason Fleming; midfielder Bobby Skinner and midfielder Trent Chapman.
Comin in from outside the county are defender Will Nicholson, who has done well on trial from Gateshead; ex-Sheffield United midfielder James Murray and forward Freddie O’Donoghue who is from the Isle of Man.
