YOUNG Coleford footballer Craig Tait has just been given a new two-year contract with Aston Villa's football academy at Villa Park.
Craig, 12, who has already spent a year with the Birmingham club, will be playing for the under-13s. He was one of only five members of his age group to have been selected to stay on for a further term.
Craig was playing for Ellwood in the Gloucester League when he was selected by Aston Villa a year ago. He has played about 30 games for the club and trains in Birmingham three times a week. Most of the games are played on Sundays.
Stuart Tait, Craig's father, runs him to Birmingham for the training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and on Sundays.
"He is very keen and his ambition is to play in Premier League football," said Mr Tait, who is himself an ex-Cheltenham footballer who had to quit the game through injuries.
"He hasn't thought of following any other career besides football. On two nights we have literally five minutes between coming home and going off to Birmingham. It is a terrific commitment. I think any other youngster would find it hard to keep that level of dedication and commitment up.
"He is playing at wing back at the moment. At local football he enjoyed playing mid-field, and that is his favourite but Villa keep him at wing back because he has the speed that's needed."
Craig attends Lakers School at Five Acres with his sister Louisa.