ACHILLES winger Dom Arnold has entered a nationwide competition to win a professional football contract.

Arnold, 28, went in for Samsung’s Win A Pro Contract talent hunt in the hope of signing for League One Swindon Town or Leyton Orient.

He said: “I played for the Ipswich Youth Academy when I was younger. It was really well run and we even got to train at Portman Road.

“Darren Bent was part of the Academy at the time. Even then he scored goals for fun, you could tell he was going to be a top player.

“Unfortunately I got released as the coaches said I was too short. It was frustrating as many players have made it despite being small, just take a look at Lionel Messi!

“Now I play for local amateur side Achilles in the Suffolk and Ipswich Football League.

“It’s still my dream to play professionally. Hopefully Samsung’s Win A Pro Contract will give me that chance.”

For the first time since the Win A Pro competition launched in 2010, there will be two professional contracts on offer. Leyton Orient have this season joined Swindon Town as Samsung’s official WAPC partners.

Amateur players of all abilities can enter WAPC, and two winners will each be awarded a year-long professional contract – one at each of the Football League clubs.

Hopefuls will be tested at regional skills trials and 11-a-side matches as they bid to kick-start the dream of becoming a professional footballer.

Last year’s winner, Chris Smith, signed for Swindon Town in February and made his first team debut against Bradford in May.