GRADE A

Last updated : 16 November 2004 By editor

TEENAGE Manchester United footballer Jonathan Evans has proved to be a star in the classroom as well as on the pitch.

The 16-year-old's showed his brains are not just in his feet as he notched an impressive nine grade As including four at A* in his GCSEs.

Jonathan, who plays for the Reds' under 18s, has now received the Governors' Award for the best results in his year at Ashton on Mersey School.

The school has been educating United's schoolboy signings for the past six years and they split their time between the classroom and training pitch at Carrington.

Jonathan is now a full-time professional but attends lessons one and half days a week where he is studying a BTEC in business and a Maths A level.

Jonathan said: "My family were worried about me moving to Manchester but I have really enjoyed it and achieved better results than I expected. I aim to continue with my studies and my ambition is to play for the first team one day."

Headteacher Tarun Kapur, said: "We are delighted for Jonathan, he's a mature young man and a role model. He's put in the effort and he deserves his success. It's very exciting for us to be rewarding so many high achievers. Straight A students or not, a significant number of them are receiving results that are a testimony to the fantastic work that they, and all our staff have put in."

Dave Bushell, youth development officer at Manchester United, said: "We know it's a very precarious business for even the most gifted players and we want to prepare them for the end of their careers."