The NEW football season is under way, but some Oswestry School’s pupils and staff have made the most of their time on the pitch over the summer.

Sixth form sports scholar Ben Clark travelled to Macedonia to compete in Europe’s biggest footballing competition – the Champions League.

Ben who plays for Welsh champions The New Saints, travelled with the squad to play FK Shkëndija.

After TNS were knocked out of the Champions League, they were entered into the Europa League, where they faced Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar in their first qualifying round.

Ben travelled to Gibraltar where TNS did enough to progress to the next round, earning a trip to Denmark to play FC Midtjylland.

A 5-1 defeat on aggregate meant the Saints were eliminated from the tournament, but Ben will no doubt value the opportunity.

Ben hopes to secure a professional contract with TNS when he completed his A-levels.

A little further afield, twin brothers in year 11 Chun and Yat Wong, represented Hong Kong at under 16s level in the JC Youth Football Academy Summit.

The pair played against Manchester United, and have represented Hong Kong since the under 14s age group, having been scouted playing for their home club.

Chun and Yat hope to either sign for a professional team or enrol on a football scholarship programme in the USA upon completion of their A levels.

It was not just pupils making a name for themselves, with Oswestry School first XI football coach and former pupil, Alun Morris, travelling to Lithuania for Cefn Druids’ Europa League fixture against FK Trakai.

Alun said: “Oswestry School’s football provision has gone from strength to strength in the past two years.

“It’s a privilege for me to coach these young players and help them achieve their dreams of playing professional football once they have completed their A levels here at school.

“Playing competitively myself gives me a full understanding of the level of training and competition that the boys need when they are playing here at school.

“I am really looking forward to the new academic year and seeing how far the teams will go in the Shropshire league.

“Without a doubt we are the centre of footballing excellence in North Shropshire.”

There will be an open morning at Oswestry School 9am on Saturday, October 6, to highlight the school's sporting opportunities, as well as a sixth form information evening at 7pm on Thursday, October 18.