One Bermudian youngster will get a taste of life in the English pro ranks this summer, as Shaun Goater gives back an enormous gift to the Island?s footballers of the future.

As part of this year?s third instalment of the Grassroots Soccer Festival, one lucky young player will get a chance, along with their parents or coach, to follow in the Goat?s giant footprints and spend a week with the Manchester City Youth Academy.

?We thought we would do something a little bit different this year,? said Goater, who attended ?The Goat Returns? fund-raising dinner in Manchester this week with Man City legends Tommy Booth and Dennis Tueart.

?The coaches are going to come out a little earlier and have a look at all the youngsters who are attending the Festival and the coaching sessions.

?They are going to pick out one youngster, probably someone 14 to 16 years-old to come to England for a week to take a look at life at a pro club.

?They, and either their parents or their coach, would be able to come to the City Academy for training sessions for a week.

?It is up to them when they go over and if it is during the season they can come and watch a first team game and take a tour of the stadium. I think it is important to give one youngster a chance to taste life at a pro club like Manchester City.?

For Goater, who first went to Manchester United as a teenager before going on to a succession of pro clubs and then earning legendary status at Maine Road with the Blues, the importance of giving an Island youngster a chance is understandable.

?I had an opportunity which turned into a wonderful career in England and I still hope through the Grassroots Festival, and particularly this initiative, that others get the same chance,? he continued.

?We will not just be looking at footballing ability when we pick the one to go on trial, there will be other factors.

?We are looking for someone with the right attitude, temperament and maturity to make the most of the experience.?

Goater added that, once again, the Manchester City youth side would play against Bermuda as part of the festival, an element that he is particularly keen on.

?I think it benefits everyone,? said Goater.

?For Bermuda, it gives the national side another opportunity to test themselves against quality opposition while it also is good for the development of the City players.

?A number of the lads who have been out here are breaking into the first team, like Bradley Wright-Phillips and Lee Croft, and it makes me proud to think that Bermuda played a part in that development.

?And for the people of Bermuda, hopefully they feel then can relate more to the first team at City as players who they recognise from games here break into the squad over there.?

The Grassroots Festival runs May 28 to June 5 and more details will soon be available on www.shaungoater.bm