The Warrnambool teenager has made Werribee City’s under 16s team and will make his National Premier League Victoria junior debut in March.

Before he dons the club’s blue and yellow jersey for the first time he will endure a tough pre-season — one that will ensure the Warrnambool Wolves product is ready for the Football Federation Victoria-run competition.

Connor, 14, trained with Werribee three nights a week in the lead-up to Christmas and faces a similar heavy work and travel load after the new year’s break in readiness for the 16-side west conference season. 

But he said it was “all worth it”.

Connor has already noticed benefits from the extensive pre-season program, saying he’d developed his fitness, positioning and skill level on his opposite foot.

The Warrnambool College student said the challenge of playing at a higher level was spurring him on and was confident his versatility — he plays left back, left midfield and centre back — would hold him in good stead.

“I just learnt to love the sport from such a young age and any opportunity to play at the highest Australian level (like this) and besides A-League is just a dream,” he said.

“They don’t normally do trials so early and I went down for the under 15s and they told me to trial for the under 16s. The coach was interested and they put me in the team.”

Connor travelled to the United Kingdom in September as part of a West Ham United Oceania Academy tour.

The chance to watch English Premier League matches and a Champions League game was an eye-opener for the Arsenal fan.

It showed him “what the level has to be to get to where you want to in soccer” and encouraged him to try out at Werribee. 

“It was just amazing. Soccer is just everywhere,” Connor said.

Connor’s busy 2015 sporting schedule will include school commitments.

Warrnambool College is preparing for its School Sport Victoria Premier League competition debut.

The school is one of six which will contest the inaugural senior boys’ section. 

Connor’s love of football extends beyond the round ball code.

He plays Australian rules and won an under 14 Warrnambool and District league premiership with Allansford in September.

The Cats defender hopes he will make appearances in the blue and white hoops next season when soccer commitments permit.

Meanwhile, Warrnambool Rangers pair Tom Pyers and Michael Mullins have trialled with Ballarat Red Devils for their NPL1 under 20s side.

Tom, 15, and Michael, 16, expect to find out if they’ve made the Red Devils’ roster early in the new year.

They played a mixture of under 17s, reserves and seniors for the Rangers in the Ballarat and District Soccer Association this year. 

Tom, a Warrnambool College student, is a goal keeper and Michael, who attends Emmanuel College, plays centre back.

justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au