This is somewhat of a rarity.

While women soccer players from London have made headlines over the years, especially recently with their success, that success rate has been far lower on the men’s and boy’s side.

But 16-year-old Alexander Irwin hopes to change some of that. Irwin, born in Mississauga but a London resident since he was six, has been invited to Canada Soccer’s U17 evaluation camp in Toronto. There will be eight on-field sessions, which began Tuesday and run through Saturday. He is one of 23 players selected to the evaluation.

Irwin, a central defender with the ability to play as a holding midfielder, played this year with FC London U21 team. But his ability didn’t go unnoticed and he was called up several times to play with FC London League1 Ontario team. He even started a game.

At 16, Irwin is well spoken and focused beyond his years. He already knows what he wants to do and that’s eventually play professionally overseas and represent his country at the national level. Even though he has played on regional and provincial teams, this week will be the first opportunity he has to make noise at the national level.

He found out a week ago that he’d get this chance.

“I’m really, really excited,” he said from Toronto Tuesday. “I’ve been waiting for a while to have the opportunity to get a shot. It’s a pretty satisfying feeling getting the email.

“It was interesting because the day before I got the email we were talking about a camp that I went down to. We were talking about it and the next day we were sitting down around lunchtime and my mother opened up her phone and there was the email. We were really excited. It caught us off guard. There was a little bit of excitement.”

The fact Irwin played with FC London’s League1 team on several occasions speaks to his ability and his maturity.

FC London’s Ian Campbell, the club’s CEO, says it isn’t often that a male player from London gets this opportunity.

“It’s great to be part of something that is bringing this kind of opportunity to London players,” Campbell said.

Irwin understands how hard he has to work at all aspects of his development at this stage in his life and career in order to be successful.

“Right now I’m doing home schooling, doing a lot of it online,” he says. He’s also an excellent student. “Soccer is a major focus right now but that doesn’t mean that I don’t focus on my studies a lot. My parents are very supportive and they want me to stay on track for school as I do.

“(School) doesn’t take a backseat to soccer but soccer is my primary career goal.

“They are pretty strict (about schooling) but are also very understanding. They understand my dream. They don’t put any unnecessary pressure on me. They are always there when I need it.”

Canada’s 23 players are all born 2000 or later, making them eligible for next year’s CONCACAF and FIFA U-17 competitions. Many of the players in this group have been part of Canada Soccer’s men’s national youth program since 2014 but coach Paul Stalteri wanted to also have a look at some new players.

Next year’s CONCACAF Men’s U17 Championship is in Panama. From 12 nations, the Top Four will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup in India in 2017.

Already this year, Canada Soccer has held men’s U17 camps in Canada, the United States and Panama. There will be another camp in late November.

Irwin has a terrific outlook on what he needs and wants to do.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunities I worked for,” he said. “It took a lot of time. The first year I went to the provincial team I got cut (U14). It was a good wake-up to understand that things don’t happen easily.

“The recipe is really just hard work.”