“To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal” Abdul Kalam, former President of India.

Aaron Gardiner is a young man with clear intent as to what he is aiming for and he possesses an overriding desire to occupy a place on the pitch for a top-tier, English professional football club.

Lofty goals for a teenager hailing from a tiny island such as Bermuda, but Gardiner is resolute and has been putting in serious work preparing, positioning and learning his craft.

The 18-year-old has already been involved with Bermuda’s Under-23 squad as a multi-dimensional midfield talent and is comfortable with holding responsibilities or helping to facilitate attacks.

“I believe I’m capable in various midfield roles,” said Gardiner, a product of North Village’s youth programme, who has previously attracted the interest of a number of Scottish club scouts and has had professional trials with Watford, Salford City and Livingston.

“I play box to box and believe I can fit any role I’m asked to.”

Gardiner’s devotion to the sport commenced early as a football became his most treasured object and constant companion almost from the time he was able to walk.

His father Craig, at the time a volunteer coach with Bermuda Youth Sports Programme (BYSP), signed him up to play, at the age of four but soon realised his son needed to experience a heightened level of competition.

Craig Gardiner, an accountant at an exempt (re)insurance company is a former volunteer member of North Village’s executive and it is there his his son thrived under the guidance of youth coaches Maceo Dill, Marlon Dill, Shannon Burchall, Irving Romaine and Kenny Thompson at the Under-23 level, where he formed part of the club’s 2022 Bermuda Football Association (BFA) Under-23 Summer League champions.

“It all started through my dad,” said Gardiner of his football love affair. “He was big into football and during his early years he was getting scouted, but he didn't have the same drive and determination that I have for football.

“I started playing pretty much as soon as I could walk. I always had a ball at my feet. My parents signed me up to participate at age three and at age four I signed up for North Village and Village was my home ever since.

“I really enjoyed being at North Village, made some very good friends there and enjoyed playing for them.”

His football development progressing well, but in need of another jump in standard, Gardiner left Bermuda to continue his apprenticeship at Harefield Academy in Middlesex, a boarding school specialising in sports and serving as a youth system to SkyBet Championship League club Watford. It is also where Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho was educated.

Harefield harboured many Bermudians and Gardiner would make frequent return forays to Bermuda, but his stay at the institution was short-lived as he did not take well to having to reside on campus.

“I didn’t really like the boarding side of it,” explained Gardiner. “I had family up in Scotland, so I moved up there and continued my pursuit of football and was playing in Division 1. I was still in school and joined a club Linlithgow [Rose FC], which is a type of boys’ club.”

But, yet again, the stay was not enjoyable and Gardiner, perhaps demonstrating the lack of focus and maturity that often afflicts adolescents, elected to move away from the East of Scotland club to more friendly confines alongside his schoolmates.

Suddenly, in the midst of all the fun, games and teenage mischief a light came on in the mind of Gardiner, reminding him of his purpose and he renewed his vow to football.

“It clicked in my head that I am here for a reason,” Gardiner said. “And that the whole thing about me leaving Bermuda was for a reason, that being to pursue football at the highest levels."

“So I went to trials at a first division team who wanted to see me. That was Hutchison Vale, but that did not quite work out. They wanted to sign me but felt they needed to stay loyal to the families they presently had, although I did play in a trial game for them against another team that did want to sign me, which was Salvesen."

Later in 2021, while on a break visiting Bermuda, a representative of the Edinburgh-based club contacted the youngster and, upon his return, he was thrust into competition among the organisations Under-20 set-up.

“That was a big step up for me”, said Gardiner, who as a 16-year-old was training with guys bigger, faster and more physical than he'd previously encountered. “I did well and it was a real test for me and helped improve my game.”

The same year Gardiner returned south to England, where he was recruited by International Development Football Academy (iDFA), where he remains in pursuit of his dream to become a professional footballer, but with a back-up plan as he engages in the study of kinesiology.

Gardiner has recently suffered a rash of injuries, including one to his knee, concussion and most recently a dislocated shoulder, which involved surgery to insert implants to stabilise and strengthen the joint.

“Most of my injuries have been smaller injuries that don't keep me out for very long, but they’re annoying little injuries,” said the player, shrugging off accusations of being injury prone.

“My shoulder injury has been the most serious that I’ve had because it involved surgery to put in anchors and six months rehab, so I’m not even back to playing yet and I’m still doing physio.”

Those injuries have given cause for Gardiner to adopt improved manner of nutrition and bodily care, hence his focus on his studies.

“Along with my degree, I’m also doing an extended diploma in sports and physical activity, so it’s my last year of that until I can get my diploma,” said Gardiner.

“Next year I’ll start to do studies in sports science. Education has allowed me to better understand the body as well as get to know more about my own body and how the body works in different sports and in different situations.

“It has brought attention to me that it is very important, the recovery, as well as eating well, add nutrition and the importance of developing a routine, a healthy routine.”

But before he resorts to a role of alleviating distress in the joints and muscles of others, there is the matter of scaling the ladder toward football's holy grail for club and country.