On Parade - with John Hendrie

 My wife Linda and I are seeing a fair bit of the motorway ferrying our son Luke to Manchester.

He has signed a two-year contract with United, which is great, but the biggest commitment is having to get him over there for training four times a week.

We’re under no illusions how tough it will be for him. If he gets a scholarship at the end of it, then great, but if not he will have become a better player to hopefully get one elsewhere.

Bradford City have also made a tidy little sum out of the deal, so I see it as a win-win situation.

Bradford sent Luke over on trial in the summer and he went on a tour with United to Holland. They played the likes of Ajax, Real Madrid and Cape Town Ajax, so it was a great experience for him.

But I had to bring him down a peg or two when he asked if the team were having a private flight out there. I said he might be good but not that good – and he went pure red!

Luke did well out there and, after a bit of haggling to and fro between Bradford and United, he signed the deal.

You’ve got to be realistic and I know the pitfalls, which I’ve warned him about. United can take players from all over the world.

Whatever happens, he will get a great education from being there and City are making a few bob. The only losers are myself and Linda with all that driving!

Only three years ago, Luke was still playing in the Keybury League for Menston, so he’s a good example for other kids not to give up if they are not spotted early by a club.

He got knocked back by Bradford at under-11 level and it was another year before he got picked up by them.

The move has opened the door for me to get involved at City now with the under-13s. I couldn’t do it before because having two lads going through the system, it would have been too difficult.

Jordan, my younger son, is in the team as well as Stuart’s lad and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. They are a great bunch of kids and the parents as well and it’s good to be part of the club.