IF the past couple of years are anything to go by, Warminster schoolboy Iain Carr could hardly ask for a better start in football after being accepted into the Bristol City academy.

Despite years of languishing in the lower reaches of English football, City boast one of the top academies in the country after investing tens of thousands of pounds into it over the last few seasons.

Since its launch in July 1998, 34 graduates have forced their way into league football, with six players enjoying international honours.

Now Carr is hoping to become their next success story.

Carr, 16, a pupil at Kingdown School, has played in the Bristol City youth teams for the last three seasons having previously spent a season at Portsmouth.

He is currently taking his GCSEs but will start the two-year scholarship at Ashton Gate in July, where he will continue his education as well as playing football every day.

Next season Carr will get the chance to pit his wits against Premiership club academies, such as Manchester United and Arsenal, as he looks to further his dreams of becoming a professional footballer.

He said: "I am well pleased to be given the chance and I am really looking forward to starting there.

"I hope to become a pro footballer and to be honest I don't really care where. Having said that I am a Manchester United fan so that would be great if I could one day play for them.

"I also dream of playing for my country one day but at the moment I am just concentrating on improving as a player."

Carr, who played for Warminster Hornets as a youngster, has been training three times a week at City for the past few seasons and has close hand experience of the impact academy graduates can have on first team football.

He has trained with a number of former graduates who are now first team regulars, including Scott Golbourne, who has also played for England under 18s, and Dave Cotterill, who has been selected for Wales under 17s.

Other stars to have come out of the academy include Leroy Lita, City and England under 21, Matt Hill, Preston North End, Tommy Doherty, Northern Ireland and City, and Jim Brennan, Norwich City.

Carr, who lives at the Army barracks, Warminster, said: "It gives you a lot of confidence when you look at the players who have come through the academy. I played with players such as Cotterill and Golbourne and now look where they are now.

"Bristol City seem to like giving young players a chance and I pleased to be joining the academy."