A football development programme is helping propel Harrow's teenaged talent into the professional game.

The Elite Soccer programmedraws most of its players from Harrow schools and several have been snapped up by Premiership clubs since it was launched three years ago, and it shows no sign of slowing down.

Recently, a mixed team of Under-15 and Under-16 players won the prestigious Valtellina Cup in the Italian Alps. The youngsters swept aside Canadian side Surrey Pegasus 3-0 in the final. They had earlier beaten the same team 1-0 in their group opener before overcoming Italian sides AS Pentacom (3-0) and Valmalenco (8-0).

Elite Soccer then brushed aside GS Roscassisa 3-0 in the semi-finals before repeating the score in the main event. Not bad for a programme run by volunteers.

One of Elite Soccer's founders, Michael Bradshaw, set it up after working as a scout and coach for several Premiership clubs, including Fulham and Arsenal.

He said: "I became frustrated that play-ers outside of Academies, irrespective of their ability, were not able to access the same standard of facilities and coaching.

"We try to make the football less driven by results and the environment more disciplined - we view the programme as a football education."

Bradshaw, who spent the past two years working as an Academy scout for Watford FC, admits he was surprised his squad prevailed in Italy despite placing much emphasis on the technical side of the game in training.

He added: "We didn't do very well in the competition the first time we entered but ended up winning it this time. They exceeded our expectations which were to reach the semi-finals.

"Our motivation is to try and get our youth players to play in a manner similar to the Europeans where the games are more technical and use of the football is more intelligent."

Elite Soccer have also competed in several other tournaments globally and against professional academies and the experiences have certainly paid off for a lucky few.

Bradshaw revealed: "The success rate for programmes such as ours that sit outside football academies is just one percent. But lots of our lads go to Arsenal, Luton, Fulham - all over the place really. Some are more successful than others."

Connor Hayes, 16, is the latest gem to have been plucked by a professional club. And while they might not be as huge as the Arsenals of the world, Blue Square Premier outfit Rushden & Diamonds captured Hayes on a two-year professional scholarship.

The Elite Soccer players currently train at Hillingdon Borough but Bradshaw hopes to relocate to Harrow once suitable facilities are found.

In the meantime, the programme is recruiting Under-16's players for their Eastern Junior Alliance League campaign, and Under17/18 players for the Allied Counties Floodlit Midweek League season.

Anyone interested can call Michael Bradshaw on 07932 038343.