A YOUNG Calstock footballer who hopes to net a place in the professional game received a boost this month when he was offered a schoolboy scholarship with Torquay United.

Kevin McCallion, 14, who attends Callington Community College, has won a place for two-years at the Football League Two side's Centre of Excellence.

The centre forward, who played for Callington FC in the Devon Junior League before joining his present side Tamerton Foliot U14s, also plays for his college side.

His proud mum Edna told the Times: 'He just lives and breathes football. Although he enjoys playing rugby and cricket football is his life and he wants to make a career out of it. Kevin has had to work hard and this offer by Torquay has giving him the opportunity to realise his dream.

'Kevin knows he has a long way to go and there is a lot of competition. However, whatever goal he has set himself he has been fortunate to have achieved through hard work.'

Stuart Henderson, Torquay United's head of youth recruitment, said of the teenager: 'It is testament to Kevin, that despite being an U15s player he has gone straight into the U16s squad at Torquay United.

'It's great for everyone concerned, Kevin is obviously made up that he has made the step up from the Development Centre to the Centre of Excellence which is the goal for every player who enters the advanced development system, and he thoroughly deserves it for the efforts he has made.

'The fact that he is going into the U16 squad is testament to the standard he has reached.

Kevin entered the development centre system three and a half years ago where he was signed for the U12s. His attitude has always been good, rarely missing sessions and developed well throughout the games programme playing the likes of Cardiff, West Brom, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle, Barnsley and Darlington.

In the last 18 months when the Advanced Development Centres have competed in games in tournaments and tours against the likes of Newcastle, Sunderland, QPR, Reading, York, Aldershot — there has been a massive development in his own personal game.'