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"TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES."

This eye-popping slogan adorns the south side of the iconic Lower Free Bridge over the Delaware River which connects New Jersey to Pennsylvania.

Adopted in 1917, it hints at Trenton's former glory as a leading manufacturing centre for rubber, wire rope, ceramics and even cigars.

And while the slogan may be outdated, one athlete is giving hope to thousands of inner city kids dreaming of a better life in a city where 27% of residents live below the poverty line.

The athlete is Matthew Olosunde, the city's poster boy, who is making waves at Manchester United.

Stoyan Pumpalov, who coached Olosunde at Princeton Football Club from the age of seven, knows just how far the former forward has come.

"He was always the skinniest little player in the group," he told MEN Sport.

"Matthew was a very quiet, shy boy but respectful to everyone - team-mates, coaches and officials.

"He was very fast with good technique and great composure in front of goal."

Olosunde played for Princeton in the autumn and spring and linked up with Mooch Soccer in the winter and summer.

The programme was founded by Rider University head coach Charlie Inverso to give opportunities to underprivileged kids in Trenton.

And Inverso had an interesting method for toughening Olosunde up - with the help of his parents.

"He always had those long legs and it would have done nothing for him to play against kids his own age," he remembers.

"On the first day of practice, his dad Peter said to us, 'Play him against the big boys'. He learned how to find the ball instead of outrunning players and he played with some pretty tough kids.

"Matt's success is traced directly back to his parents, Peter and Winnie. They instilled discipline and the value of education in him. Matt is very bright."

Education has been at the forefront of Olosunde's journey.

When he joined the New York Red Bull's Academy at the age of 14, Olosunde's parents shared the driving as their son did his homework in the back seat.

Sometimes, the family would not get home until 1am as Pumpalov remembers.

"Matthew’s parents and I talked a lot about it when they told me that he would like to try to play at the RB Academy," he said.

"Our concern at that time was that the RB training facility was almost two hours away from Matthew’s home and spending four hours driving on top of two hours of training could take a lot of his time for study and preparing his school homework."

But, remarkably, Olosunde remained a straight-A student.

When he went on to join the International Management Group's residency programme in Florida, where Landon Donovan once flourished, Olosunde continued his studies.

And the right-back even turned his back on the New York Red Bulls ahead of studying at Duke University before Manchester United stepped in last year.

It hardly comes as a surprise that the Reds reportedly set up online courses from Oxford University to convince him to move across the Atlantic.

Having since travelled for the first team games against Arsenal and Tottenham, Olosunde is now in line for his debut in the final league game of the season against Crystal Palace.

And Inverso hopes the 19-year-old can prove a source of inspiration for inner city kids across the US.

"As much as we knew he would be a great player I would be lying if I didn't tell you that this is a little bit of a dream for those who know Matt," he said.

"I mean this isn't just any European team - it's Manchester United. Not everyone in America knows soccer but everyone knows Manchester United. Matt is already a great player but his ceiling is high.

"I saw him and his parents during Christmas vacation and told him that he is hopefully going to be a pioneer for thousands of American inner city kids who wouldn't get the chance to play soccer to now experience the beautiful game."