A SCHOOLBOY has come one step closer to his dream of playing football for Wales.
GCSE pupil Ricky Wilson could soon be part of the Wales Under 15 squad if he fends off competition from the best talent in North Wales.
The youngster, who began his sports career with a healthy interest in kick-boxing and was crowned North West champion for his age group by the time he was 10, soon had his heart set on playing football.
And it proved to be a good move as Ricky, from Sealand Manor, Deeside, has already enjoyed success on the pitch at county club level and is a member of the under 15 Academy squad at Airbus.
But now the 14-year-old has his sights set on national recognition. He is hoping to join the elite ranks of the Wales’ under 15 development squad but he will have to fend off the best talent from across North Wales if he is to stand a chance of being picked out by the nation’s talent scouts.
His dad, Paul, said: “We’re all absolutely buzzing and extremely proud.
“He’s already fought his way to the last 22 in North Wales. A lot of them are training with Premiership clubs, so he really has done so well to get this far.
“He even got a trial with Everton who wrote him a fantastic letter saying he was ‘a talented footballer’ and they’d keep an eye on him.
Ricky’s mum Shelley and sisters Shannon, 16, and 12-year-old Laura are also backing Ricky, and Nicoll Sargent, learning manager for PE at John Summers High School, Queensferry, where Ricky is a pupil, revealed she saw a rare talent emerging in him.
She said: “He is a great role model for the other pupils. He works really hard and is very enthusiastic.
“He always gives 100 per cent and I know he can do anything he puts his mind to.
“And it’s great that he’s got family backing and supportive friends around him. Here at the school, we’re all really proud of him and think he’s done so well to get this far, especially in football which is so competitive.”