WHITEPARISH’S Jake Burgess beat almost 6,000 aspiring footballers to a one-year contract with Leyton Orient after winning the Samsung Win A Pro Contract competition.

The 16-year-old made it through a series of selection processes and an 11-aside final to join forces with the League One high-fliers, who are managed by Russell Slade.

After the final, Burgess was one of two players to be invited to intense boot-camp training with the Orient first team squad, where he got the life-changing call.

“It’s an absolute dream come true to become a professional footballer,” the Salisbury City academy player said.

“I got straight on the phone to my grandparents to tell them the news and they were really excited for me.

“I can’t wait to get started at Orient now, all of the players and staff are great and I’m really looking forward to working hard for them in the future.

“For now, I’m going to be dedicating my time to working on my fitness in the gym and playing as much football as possible, before joining the squad where the real work starts.”

Burgess will now look to join the Orient squad in the next few months, before signing his professional contract in June.

•Four hopefuls are still waiting to see who will be chosen to win the year-long contracts still up for grabs at partner clubs Swindon Town and Wycombe Wanderers.