Teenager Archie Henderson has headed north in pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional footballer after he enjoyed a week to remember.

Championship club Blackburn won the battle to sign the sought-after centre-back, 16, after he featured in Herne Bay’s final two Isthmian South East matches last season.

Henderson, of River, near Dover, put pen to paper with the Lancashire side - a day after he got his GCSE results - last month in a whirlwind couple of days.

Dad Tony Henderson, who had been Deal Town’s physio until recently, said: “We had 19 clubs after Archie! It was unreal.

“It was quite difficult when he was 15 and looking for a club to allow him to play with the under-23s.

“He’s 6ft 6in so there’s no real point in him playing in his own age-group, or even under-18s, because he was too big for them. He was too good for that level.

“We know (player-manager) Liam Friend really well. Archie came over and played some friendlies because he couldn’t sign until he was 16.

“He then signed on his 16th birthday and started to play for their under-23s. Within a couple of weeks, he was training with the first team.

“The second to last game last season, he made his first-team debut against Deal Town and I was physio for Deal Town - so that was weird! I resigned after that game because you can’t really come up against your son, can you?

“The last game of the season, he played the full 90 minutes (in a 4-0 loss at Steyning Town Community).

"We have got a lot to thank Herne Bay for. They took a chance on Arch and helped him to progress to where he is now.

“We went back to pre-season with Herne Bay this summer.

"He played 45 minutes in most of the games throughout pre-season and West Ham, Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Millwall, Charlton, Derby, Everton, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn (were showing interest in Henderson), and the list goes on.

“Honestly, it was absolutely crazy. A 16-year-old signing at Step 4 for a second season is kind of unheard of.

“These clubs are looking for non-league gems now, aren’t they?

“The Arsenal one, we were at the game and just saying ‘goodbye’, and someone from Arsenal turned up to have a chat with us.

"That was pretty cool. It’s nice to be in that position.

"But we were loyal to Blackburn and they’ll nurture him.

“He was already training with the under-21s on the second day so they’re doing what they said they’re going to do in terms of pushing him forward.”

So, why did Archie and his family favour a Blackburn switch over many more clubs, which would have been closer to home?

Tony said: “The pathway to the first team.

“Speaking to West Ham, they were looking more at when he’s 20, in four years’ time, but Blackburn - even after a one-week trial - wanted him training with their under-21s.

“Following the pathway of Adam Wharton (the midfielder now an England international after coming through Blackburn’s Academy) is what they said to us for Archie and they’re sticking to what they’ve said.”

Henderson’s GCSE results will allow for him to progress with his education, as well as on the pitch, too.

“He got his GCSEs on the Thursday where he got nines, eights and sevens,” his father said. “Then, he signed on the Friday for Blackburn Rovers, which was surreal.

“What he’ll do is the equivalent to three A-Levels in terms of UCAS points.

“They (Blackburn) have links to Loughborough University so he can go on and do sports psychology - which he’s quite interested in - sports science or kind of anything sports-related, provided he gets the grades.

“That was a massive factor for us, as well, in terms of his education.”

The changes Archie has been through over the past six months would be a lot for anyone of any age, let alone a 16-year-old, who had previously been at AFC Wimbledon.

But sports therapist Tony said: “He’s obsessed and just wants to go and do it.

“We hung around (the day he moved into his home with Blackburn) because we couldn’t drop him off until 5pm on the Sunday so we had to hang around and he said ‘Oh, I just want to get on with it.’.

“We got to his lodge at 5pm - and he turned and said ‘Can you go now?’. We’re going to find it difficult to let go.

“Everything has been structured since Covid, really, for him. We’ve had help from nutritionists and stuff like that.

“Because of his height, there’s a certain amount he needs to eat.

“I need to make sure he’s still doing that but it’s hard in terms of that transitional phase for us, passing him over to someone else. But he’s fine with everything.

“We’re happy if he’s happy.”

A spokesman said: “Herne Bay FC would like to congratulate Archie Henderson, who is trading the blue and white of the Bay for that of Blackburn Rovers.”