ZAC Sirrell missed out on a trial with Premier League Tottenham Hotspur - but he was coached by former Hereford United boss Simon Davey.

The 17-year-old central midfielder reached the last 14 in the new Pro FC scouting programme devised by ex- Cheltenham Town and new Barnet boss Martin Allen.

He was among 94 students who spent a week in Warwickshire at Pro FC’s inaugural camp.

Two players were selected for trials with Tottenham Hotspur and six others have secured trials with Football League clubs.

Allen said: “Zac made our final 14 which is a fine achievement and he was selected by the managers for the match which we had on the Friday morning.

“Zac was in Simon Davey’s team. I nicknamed him ‘Sidwell’ because of his ginger hair - and he loved it.

“I had a lot of affinity with Zac - he’s a good lad.”

Zac, who plays for Westfields, is a student at The Hereford Academy, who funded his trip.

Davey, who had a disastrous fourth-month spell at Edgar Street, was among six managers who coached the Pro FC squads.

“We gave managers who were between jobs the opportunity to get back on the training field,” said Allen, the former Leicester City, MK Dons and Brentford boss.

“The players trained with pro managers and the job of the team managers on the Friday was to win the game.

“Simon Davey’s team won. Simon was an outstanding character and performer.

“It came as no surprise to me - Simon showed just how good a coach he is. He is a top quality coach.”

Davey was sacked by United in October after collecting just five points from 10 matches.

Andy Ritchie, Ian McParland, Kevin Blackwell, Phil Parkinson and Steve Staunton were the other team coaches.

Striker DJ Campbell was at the camp the morning after scoring for Blackpool against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Campbell played for Stevenage against Hereford in the Conference era.

“DJ was driving a delivery van at the age of 23 and we are looking at people out there who have not been through the system,”

said Allen.

“Pro FC is about giving players with passion for football the chance to trial and train at pro clubs.”