But what makes Mills (pictured left) different is the fact that he is travelling from Albury every week to be part of the Southern line up.

The 14-year-old has outgrown the competition offered in Albury and after scouting around for a more demanding level of play settled on Southern in the NSW Super Youth League.

“I want to further my career in soccer and there is not much competition for me down there,” he said.

Mills is set to make a big impression in his debut season with Southern and with training already underway the season is shaping up well.

“The team is really good, I am fitting into the mix well so hopefully I will play well this year,” he said.

“I want to score a few more goals this year and attack well and hopefully with this strong team we can stay at the top of the ladder.”

The striker’s commitment and dedication is clearly evident in the five-hour trips he must make to Nowra every fortnight to play and train.

“I’m just keen to play soccer and I will do what I can to play any time,” he said.

“I’m just really motivated to play.

“I can’t make every training session in Nowra so I train with the Albury senior side twice a week.

“It’s good playing at that level because they expect more from you.”

Along with such a commitment comes the huge cost, which falls upon his family.

“We estimate it will cost around $12,500 a year for me to play, for things like petrol, accommodation and registrations fees,” he said.

And his family isn’t in a position to pay for it all so locals are trying to raise money to offset some of the costs.

“We are having a trivia and auction night in May and hope local businesses will donate products to auction off and use as prizes,” he said.

All the money raised will go directly to supporting Matthew in his soccer career, which he hopes will one day take him to the highest level.

He is definitely on his way with several years of high achievement behind him.

In 2005 he was invited to join the Albury Soccer Academy, in 2006 he was the top goal scorer in under 13s and 14s and was selected into the Albury and Riverina representative sides.

In 2007 he played third grade in the men’s competition and was selected into the Albury, Riverina and Country representative sides.

“At the end of this year I want to make the NSW Institute of Sport squad, in a couple of years my goal is to be selected into the Joey team and then my main goal is to be named in the Socceroos,” he said.