Shooting star Haskins is gunning for future glories (From Gazette Series)

Shooting star Haskins is gunning for future glories

SOCCER starlet Jason Haskins is aiming for the very top after winning a major South West football talent contest.

The Winterbourne youngster, 16, has been a huge hit at Forest Green Rovers' U18s team this season and has just netted a two-year academy contract at Bristol City.

The contract has come on the back of Haskins winning the 2005 Shooting Stars Scheme, a leading South West competition run by a regional newspaper which aims to uncover the region's leading 'star of tomorrow'.

Haskins beat off competition from all across Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset to win the award and follows in the footsteps of the prize's 2004 winner, Melksham teenager Luke Ballinger, who is also on City's books and who even made a first team appearance earlier in the season in a friendly.

A pupil at The Ridings High School in Winterbourne, Haskins has risen through the ranks at various local clubs, both junior and senior. He has played for Frampton Rangers, Thornbury Falcons, Cadbury Heath, Cheltenham Town and County League side DRG Stapleton (at both junior and senior level).

Released by Cheltenham midway through the season, Haskins joined Forest Green and played at The Lawn for four months in the County Youth League before joining the City academy recently.

The delighted youngster, on receiving his Shooting Stars award at The Lawn last week, said: "I was invited to join Forest Green by Paul Spencer-White, the manager of the U18s team.

"I've enjoyed working under Paul at Forest Green and previously at Cheltenham Town.

"I hope to become a professional footballer, play for Bristol City and hopefully my country."

A proud Spencer-White, who has had a big impact on Haskins's career, added: "He has always been keen to attend the training sessions and has been an ever present in the starting line-up.

"Jason has always been encouraged by Forest Green Rovers to pursue success in the Shooting Stars 2005 contest. All of us involved with the youth team will miss him on the pitch, but we all wish him the very best of luck with his new club.

"On a personal note, I have known Jason longer than his short time at Forest Green. He has always been committed to his football and I personally hope that he succeeds at the end of his two-year academy contract.

"I look forward to receiving my tickets for his first game in the City first team. It just goes to show that you have got to be in it to win it!"