Kennahz Fray is on cloud nine after having the rare opportunity to showcase his budding talent against Manchester United.

The Bermuda Under-17 midfielder got the chance to play against the club he supports in the English Premier League when turning out for Brooke House College Football Academy’s in their 4-1 defeat by United’s under-16 team in a friendly on Tuesday.

“These opportunities do not happen often for schools in the UK, so it was an honour to be selected for the Brooke House under-16 elite team to play against Manchester United, which is the team I grew up supporting in the EPL,” Fray, 16, told The Royal Gazette.

“We didn’t get the result that we desired, but being able to compete against a massive club like Manchester United was a plus and a real eye-opener for the team to know what it’s like playing against first-class opposition.”

Fray, who has captained Bermuda’s under-15 squad, was one of two Bermudians featuring in the match with Dandy Town team-mate and Bermuda Under-17 central defender Chedi Smith also included in the Brooke House squad.

Despite being outplayed, manager Ashley Foyle was delighted to be granted the opportunity to test his players at this level.

“The game versus Manchester United was a fantastic challenge for our players to pit themselves against some of the most talented players in the world at their age,” said Foyle, who travelled to the island in search of potential talent at the Kappa Classic last month.

“We were competitive for large parts of the game but always felt we had a bit more in us, which despite losing the game 4-1 is very promising.

“Their goalkeeper was forced into a few good saves early on so the game may have looked different if we had scored at that point. Two of their goals were penalties, which in our eyes we could have avoided, but it was still intelligent play by the Man United players.

“Overall it was a great experience for the lads and Nick Cox, the academy manager, came in and had a chat with them in the changing room after, which was brilliant. He gave them some valuable guidance and advice, which backed up everything that we try to promote and develop here at the college.”

The Brooke House players received plenty of praise from their formidable hosts and valued the feedback given.

“The feedback from them was great,” Foyle, the former Chesterfield and Accrington Stanley player, said.

“They were really complimentary of our players and programme, and promised us another invite in the future.”

Foyle’s charges have already proven that they can more than hold their own at this level after thrashing Liverpool’s under-16s 6-2 last month.

Introduced in 2008 and located in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, the Brooke House Football Academy has more than 200 players aged 11 to 19 from all ethnic backgrounds.

To date, over 60 players have progressed to a professional football career after leaving Brooke House College, with some representing their national teams at youth and senior levels.

A large number of Bermudian students have attended the college, including winger Deniche Hill before he signed for Leicester City, who clinched promotion to the Premier League last week.