Ben Greenwood has continued to make excellent progress since joining the AFC Bournemouth academy towards the end of an eventful 2018/19 campaign for the defender.
He started the season playing for Fleet Spurs in Division One of the Combined Counties League, scoring three goals in seven games at step six of the non-league pyramid.
During his spell with Fleet Spurs, he attended Pulse Premier Academy, a full-time education and sports development programme based in Frimley.
In March 2019, Greenwood, who had trials with Chelsea, Arsenal and Watford, was capped by England schoolboys after featuring in Centenary Shield games against Wales and Scotland.
An Aldershot Town fan as a boy, he was recommended to Cherries under-18s’ manager Alan Connell by Carl Robson, who was then head of recruitment for the club’s academy.
Greenwood impressed Connell and his staff during a trial and was rewarded with a two-year scholarship which started in July 2019.
His remarkable rise continued when, aged 17, he was invited to attend a training camp with Republic of Ireland under-19s in September 2019, Greenwood qualifying for the Boys in Green through his grandparents on his mother’s side.
And in October 2019, he lined up for Republic of Ireland under-19s during a 2-0 defeat by Denmark in a friendly at Sligo.
In March 2020, he joined Wimborne Town on a work experience loan but was restricted to just one appearance in Southern Premier South due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And in October 2020, he joined Poole Town on loan and provided three assists in six appearances, four in Southern Premier South and two in the FA Trophy.
Greenwood featured prominently as the Cherries lifted the Hampshire Senior Cup and Central League Cup in 2020/21.
He was rewarded with his first professional contract in July 2021 and graduated into the club’s development squad.
Greenwood joined the first team during their pre-season training camp in Marbella in July 2021 and came off the bench as a second-half substitute in a friendly against European champions Chelsea.
He started all six of the Cherries’ games in the Premier League Cup in 2021/22 before joining National League Weymouth on loan in March 2022, making eight appearances.
Greenwood left All Hallows Catholic School with 13 GCSEs and his father Phil played non-league football for Walton Casuals.