Rugby football prodigy aiming for England after signing for West Brom - The Rugby Observer

Rugby football prodigy aiming for England after signing for West Brom

Rugby Editorial 21st May, 2018   0

A WOULD-BE future England star who ‘eats, sleeps and breathes’ football is bouncing for joy after signing a contract with one of the country’s top club academies.

Devon West, 8, has signed for West Bromwich Albion as an academy player, and was welcomed by first-teamers Jonathan Leko, Rekeem Harper and Sam Field.

It’s a just reward for a committed young man who already trains three nights a week with the club.

Devon first started kicking a ball when he was just two years old, and has spent the last five years playing for Baginton Lions.




He said: “My mum took me to an indoor football session when I was two, where I met my first coach Simon Atherfold – who also came to my signing.

“I really liked kicking the ball and I wanted to do that in real life. I can remember at one of the sessions I kicked the ball so high that the ceiling tile came out!”


Devon in action at the West Brom academy: “Playing football makes me feel good – I just like kicking the ball, scoring goals and nutmegging other players.”

The St Matthews Bloxam Primary School pupil has been training with West Brom for two years after he was spotted at the Vision Football Academy held at Bilton High School.

The ‘Baggies’ have now bagged him for the next three seasons – during which time Devon hopes they can ‘boing, boing’ back up to the Premier League, after being relegated at the end of the season.

For Devon, who rushes to the academy straight from school and plays two matches a month, the hard work is paying off.

He has already been on his first tour with the team to play the Newcastle academy team and watch the first team in the corresponding fixture.

He said: “Training is tough but we get to learn to work as a team and do lots of skills and our speed gets faster.

“Newcastle was a really good experience, St James’ Park is big and we won the match with an amazing goal.”

Proud mum Marcia said: “What an opportunity for him – we are so proud!

“He deserves this. He works so hard but he enjoys every minute.

“He’s football mad and my daughter Summer enjoys cheering him on from the touchline.”

Devon, who enjoys playing on the right wing because he ‘gets to score’, will now be watching this summer’s World Cup with a glint in his eye.

“I’m aiming to be a professional footballer who gets to play for England,” he said. “Playing football makes me feel good, and I want to be as good as Ronaldo.

“I just like kicking the ball, scoring goals and nutmegging other players, and I want to be a famous footballer.”

Marcia added: “It’s a long way off, but who knows? Watch this space!”

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