Worrigee’s Jackson Croft (10) and Berry’s Gabriel Lombardi (eight) have been selected as part of the squad for the 2018 West Ham United elite trip from March 29 to April 6.

Croft, a Nowra Christian School student, started playing football at the age of six. He’s been a member of a number of clubs including Shoalhaven United Bears and Southern Branch as well as training twice a week with the Illawarra Football Academy – all of which have contributed to his selection.

“To be selected, we had a regional two-day camp at Illawarra Football Academy in July this year,” Croft said.

From there he attended a national four-day camp on the Gold Coast in September, which led to him receiving in invitation from the West Ham junior development coaches to attend the  elite international camp in London.

“That was very exciting,” he said.

Croft dreams of playing football overseas in the future, so he sees this as a massive stepping stone for achieving that.

“This would be the best thing I've ever achieved, and to do it with one of my closest friends Gabriel is great,” he said.

“During the tour, I expect to be challenged, improve my game, learn new skills and most importantly have fun.”

Similarly, Lombardi, who fell in love with the game while his family lived in Napoli, Italy, first played for Shoalhaven Heads at the age of four.

Since then, he has spent time with Southern Branch – where he met Croft, scoring plenty of goals, including 30 in one season for Southern, before recently being named in the Wollongong Wolves under 10s SAP team.

Lombardi, who is also the NSW eight year boys 100m sprint champion, followed the same path as Croft to be selected for the elite trip.

 “I found out in the evening just after training, where I had received my 'player of the year' award from IFA and that same day, my principal told me about a junior sport award that I was going to receive at the final assembly – so this selection came at the end of a pretty good day for me,” Lombardi said.

“I’m expecting to gain top level experience for my future, while understanding what it takes to become a professional player –  it will be extremely important to deliver my very best at all times, both on and off the pitch.”

The pair, who first played together in 2016, are ecstatic that they get to share this incredible experience together.

“Jackson and I only played one year together but have stayed close friends through the Illawarra Football Academy,” Lombardi said.

“We also played a summer soccer tournament together last year in Nowra, where we dominated and won the final 8-1.

“I can’t wait to play with him again and hope to do so plenty of times in the future.”

Croft and Lombardi would like to thank their coaches, including Dave Shepherd from United and parents their for getting them to this point.

During the nine-day tour, the pair will take part in six West Ham United training sessions, two West Ham Academy sessions, watch a number of live English Premier League games, tour the London Olympic Stadium and meet members of the Hammers club.