On hearing of Owen Kessack's academic proficiency, it's easy to let the conversation drift away from football, marvelling at an individual inherently more capable than yourself. After achieving a string of A* grades at GCSE, the second-year defender is studying towards a pair of A-Levels.
Rare is the footballer who combines academia and sport; Jez George's former protégé Robbie Simpson a notable exception, so Owen can surely appreciate the interest. I hope he will forgive any meandering and take this interest only as a compliment, but he was awarded his scholarship for on-pitch abilities and it is they which take precedence in his thinking.
"I'd like the chance to go to university," he admits. "If I could combine uni and football I'd do it, but football comes first."
However, at times last season, the football wasn't kind to Owen. Restricted to just nine Ridgeons Premier League appearances due to the form of Darryl Coakley, he was forced to move out on loan towards the end of the campaign, in search of some match practice.
Kessack explains, "I found myself in a bit of a rut, so I went out on loan to get some experience, some game time." He joined Ridgeons Division One side March Town United, where the emphasis was placed far more on grinding out points, offering a valuable lesson. This spell away also served to focus his mind.
"I needed to improve on fitness, cut down to a leaner, fitter version, to take more responsibility; I needed to grow up," the former Gillingham full-back confesses. And so far, he appears to have benefitted.
Singled out for praise following the 6-0 defeat of Histon Reserves, Owen, who recently turned 18, went on to register his first goal of the season in a 4-2 defeat of Haverhill Rovers.
That victory saw the scholars extend their stay at the top of the division, and Owen puts part of this success down to togetherness on and off the field. The majority of the squad live across three houses on Milton Road; an environment which doubtless forges a collective mentality.
However, the atmosphere doesn't necessarily lend itself to studying, as Kessack, currently working towards A-levels in English and History, has discovered. He reveals: "I do a distance learning course, it takes quite a lot of perseverance; to find a place to go and work, it's hard but you've got to do it - I want to do it."
Such commitment in adding strings to his bow is certainly to be commended, but he maintains his dedication to forage further and higher in football. "There's not pressure to get a professional contract, it's something I want, and at the end of the year to say I've done the best I can is all I can do."
Shortly before the end of out chat, I ask where Owen's footballing allegiances lie. "Glasgow Rangers," he replies. It turns out the barely noticeable twang in his voice is a Scottish one: "Nothing against England, but I would 100% play for Scotland."
Nobody's perfect, eh.
Henry Milward
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