A former QPR youth player from Ealing is hoping to help youngsters realise their footballing dreams by launching his own soccer academy.

Tyrone Durrant was able to set up the Jamie Sanderson Academy after receiving a £2,500 grant from housing group A2Dominion. It will host its first training sessions at the end of this month (November).

The qualified coach, who also had trials with Brentford as a youngster, hopes to create new local football teams and use his experience to mentor young players in the area looking to play football at semi-professional level or above.

Tyrone Durrant speaking to young footballers
Tyrone Durrant speaking to young footballers

Skilled coaches at the academy, chosen by Mr Durrant through his work with the local community, can eventually obtain coaching qualifications, while regular football trials will run for players keen to join a team.

Mr Durrant is also using the academy to honour the memory of his close friend Jamie Sanderson, the 20-year-old from Southall stabbed and killed at a Kingston nightclub in 2012.

He said: “I am very enthusiastic about launching this academy and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to me by A2Dominion. It has been an ambition of mine for many years to help talented Ealing footballers. Our vision is to help develop players in three different age groups, eventually entering competitive teams into an academy league.”

He received funding from A2Dominion after successfully pitching his businesses idea at as 'Dragons' Den' style event.

The housing association's head of community Heather David said: “We were delighted to award the grant funding to Tyrone and he has worked tirelessly to deliver a project which will make a big difference to like-minded young people in the Ealing area. As well as being a talented footballer, Tyrone has proved to be an astute businessman and we are all impressed by his ambition to fulfil his dream of running the academy.”

The academy held its launch party in September 2014, which saw footballers aged between six and 16 play in a tournament, with the best youngsters winning tickets to a Brentford match.

Regular sessions will begin from November 29. For more information on his academy, email Mr Durrant on tyrone@jjsacademy.co.uk