FOOTBALL-MAD youngster Joe Smith was in a league of his own when it came to kicking off a smart career.

Tavistock College student Joe, 14, from Hoo Meavy, has just signed up with Exeter City. Joe was previously with Plymouth Argyle and has had offers from Torquay United and Birmingham City.

Dad, John Smith, said the signing was 'not so much something to be delighted about as something to gain satisfaction from'.

'It has been a lot of hard work. Since he was eight years old I have had him training. He has been doing weight training and fitness training. So I feel it is more a case of being deserved when you have put all that work in,' said Mr Smith whose own particular sport is Martial Arts.

Joe, has played for Birmingham three times and they said, if he had lived within one hour of the city, they would have signed him.

The geographical difficulty of distance made it impractical as he would have to attend twice a week for training — and play at weekends.

'We take him to Exeter twice a week training and then again at weekends. He then goes on the coach to the matches and we collect him after,' said Mr Smith.

He said Joe has the potential to make a professional footballer — but it was too early to say to what standard.

Joe has certainly made an impression with the football clubs. At 6ft tall and weighing in at nearly 11 stone, he plays a mean centre midfielder and central defender.

'He went to Exeter and had one trial game at the end of August and they wanted him to sign — but Argyle and Torquay were after him as well,' said Mr Smith.

'He has had his injuries and not been able to play but he has bounced back. The boys that are the most resilient will make it.'

Joe chose Exeter because he likes the club and it has good training facilities and looks after its players.

'He is a Manchester United fan but we feel it is better to start lower and work through rather than go straight to the top. We would prefer him to make it with Exeter and if he can make it to a higher level that's great,' said Dad.

Joe has been selected for Plymouth Schoolboy representative side U15s in the third round of English Schoolboys U15s cup against Oxford.

He also plays for SB Frankford U 15s Devon Junior Minor League.

Joe has won league winners' medals every year since U10s and helped take the cup for four years — only coming runner-up once.