On Saturday, Iliman Ndiaye became the latest player from the academy to earn a squad number this season.

The young midfielder was handed the number 25 shirt, ahead of the fixture against Harrogate Town.

Ndiaye went on to feature on the Wood bench alongside fellow academy player Jack Gibbs and academy graduate Sorba Thomas.

The youngster was a vital member of both Mawer’s Under 19s and 18s Elite sides, who won a league and cup double last season.

He was also one of the five PASE Academy players chosen to represent England Colleges in the previous campaign.

His involvement with the first team on a matchday is just the latest success story within the PASE Academy, proving once again that it offers incredible opportunities to young players.

Luke Garrard asserted his view that Ndiaye had earned his chance within the first team, having impressed for Cameron Mawer’s side in the PASE Academy.

“He has been brilliant,” Garrard elated. “I have got to be honest, he is my little pet project. Iliman has come from Cameron’s academy and it has been an excellent year, just look at what we have done so far.

“We have got Fred Burbidge at Dunstable and Jack Gibbs was at Northwood, although he had to come back in today due to injuries, and Alex Morgan is playing for Northwood today. There are also another two in the academy who are wanted by a certain club in the Southern Prem.

“The work that Cameron has done is fantastic and the way that he is churning out players is brilliant for me, brilliant for this football club and brilliant for the work that he is doing.

“To have Iliman on the bench was such a learning curve for him, because it shows him just how important getting three points is. He will have seen the little details today of where we went wrong, and I loved him being involved.

“To see him when he walked in and saw his name on the back of a shirt was a priceless moment, I have to say that.

“I will take my first team hat off and put my academy hat on now, because that is another positive.

“I made a kid’s dream today, Cameron has made a kid’s dream today, this club has made a kid’s dream today, because he has got his name on the back of a shirt and that will live long in my memory, seeing that kid’s face.”

So, for all budding players out there, have you got the right attitude, discipline and desire to succeed within our acclaimed PASE Academy? If you have – then you could be the next young player to feature for the Boreham Wood first team, become an England colleges international, earn a Football Scholarship to the United States or simply improve yourself through our varied and bespoke football/education programmes…

The academy is currently holding open trials and this is your chance to join a truly magnificently structured sports education programme!