A YOUNG footballer from Saffron Walden is on the path to stardom after signing a two-year scholarship with Ipswich Town. Craig Calver, 15, who is known by everyone as Wiggy, is over the moon and cannot wait to start playing in the under-18s Premier League

A YOUNG footballer from Saffron Walden is on the path to stardom after signing a two-year scholarship with Ipswich Town.

Craig Calver, 15, who is known by everyone as Wiggy, is over the moon and cannot wait to start playing in the under-18s Premier League from next season.

The teenage striker, who lives with his mum Tracey and dad Tony in Mannings Close, said: "This is all I've ever wanted and it's a dream come true.

"I've been playing football since I was about six-years-old and my main ambition in life is to play in the Premiership.

"I found out last week that I had made the grade at a meeting where one of my mates was also kept on, and I can't wait to move to Ipswich once I've completed my GCSEs at Saffron Walden County High School."

Craig has been at the Ipswich academy for 18 months and his previous clubs include Bishop's Stortford, Peterborough United, Cambridge United and Cambridge City. The prospect of leaving home at such a young age does not daunt him as he has been on several foreign tours already in his fledgling career.

"I've been away from home lots of times before when I went to Ireland, Finland, Denmark and Italy so I'm used to it and I'll be living in digs with my mate Joe Clemo, so it should be great," he said.

"It'll be hard work though as I'll be training every day, doing physical work in the gym in the mornings and ball work in the afternoons.

"I'm used to hard work as I have Tuesdays off from school to train at the academy and I also train up there on Thursdays, as well as playing matches on Saturdays."

The youngster, who supports Newcastle United, has tried to model his game on his hero, Alan Shearer, and dad Tony, who once played semi-professionally for Saffron Walden, believes his son has everything in his locker to succeed.

"Craig's got good strength, an eye for goal and he's two-footed, but he knows it's going to take even more hard work to take the next step," he said.

"He's got to treat it as a job for the next two years and work hard in training every day, but it's wonderful for him as it must be every teenager's dream to play football every day."

Mum Tracey said: "I'm really proud of him as he's shown total dedication and trained really hard. It'll be horrible without him at home but I'm really excited for him as it's what he's worked to achieve."

The Calver family are hoping that one day Craig will be playing in the Premiership and his older brother Lee, who is currently studying sports journalism at Southampton University, will be reporting on his blossoming career.