A FORMER Turton High School footballer continues to make a name for himself in America.

John Cunliffe, from Edgworth, who has just completed his second season in the American Major League Soccer, has been honoured by being voted into his former American College’s all-time team.

The 24-year-old went to Preston College when he left school and it was while he was on a football tour of the United States with other college students that he was spotted by a coach from Fort Lewis University.

The Colorado university offered him a scholarship to combine playing football with studying psychology and in his last year he scored 29 goals in 24 games as he led the college to the National Collegiate Athletics Association Division Two title.

That feat has earned him a top honour in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2009 and is recognising its all-time, all-century teams in 19 different sports and Cunliffe is one of the football selections.

In England Cunliffe had trials with Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End, Bolton Wanderers and Manchester United, but was told he was too small to make the grade.

He has impressed in America, however, and after one season playing for Los Angeles Chivas, who share the same stadium as LA Galaxy – David Beckham’s team – he moved to San Jose Earthquakes.

Cunliffe still harbours hopes of making it as a professional in Europe, but is still waiting for a chance to prove himself.