PENRYN footballer Cody Cooke has become the latest Cornishman to enter the world of professional football.

Cody, 25, joined Scottish Premiership club St Mirren two weeks ago after impressing on trial at the V9 Academy, an academy set up by Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy.

Cody then made his professional debut on Friday night for his new side, coming off the bench as they beat Kilmarnock on penalties in the Scottish League Cup.

He said: “To make my debut the other night was something special, in front of probably four or five thousand there in a new stadium that I’d not been to.

“It just seems to be different every day and ticking off new ambitions and ticking off new boxes that I’ve always wanted to fulfil as a kid, so it’s just exciting times.

“People over the last few weeks, who I’ve not spoken to for a number of years, have messaged me and congratulated me and it’s just been a mental few weeks, I don’t know if it’s really settled in just yet either.

Cornwall is not a hotbed for top-level professional football, with Cody’s former club Truro City the highest-ranked Cornish club sitting in the sixth tier of English football, something which makes his progression all the more significant.

Cody said: “You hardly get any from down our way and to be that kind of forefront, that face for people hopefully in the future to aspire to be like me and want to go on and do similar things will be an honour really. Hopefully I’m flying the flag for Cornwall and flying it for everyone down there really.

Cody had been speaking to London-based clubs after his academy trial, but a late offer came in from the Scottish club, managed by former Everton defender Alan Stubbs, who was also a coach at the academy.

Stubbs made an offer to Cody on the Tuesday, with the former Truro forward signing his first pro deal on the Thursday in a ‘whirlwind’ 48 hours.

“I then went back to work on Friday and said goodbye to everyone,” Cody said. “Obviously I had to speak to the boss on Thursday when I signed to explain and it was just an absolute whirlwind, completely mental and a bit out of the blue, but a challenge that is going to be huge and I’m looking forward to it.”

One of Cody’s first games could come at Scottish giants Rangers next month, who are managed by England legend Steven Gerrard.

“It’s just surreal, I think it’s Gerrard’s first home game as manager as well in terms of the league, so it will be a packed house and an atmosphere that I’ve never experienced.”