A TALENTED amateur footballer from Yate is a step closer to winning a professional playing contract with Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon Town.

Tom Andrews, 19, is one of 88 players left in Samsung’s nationwide Win A Pro Contract competition.

Andrews, who can play in midfield or up front, impressed scouts at a regional trial in Bristol and has been selected to play in an 11-a-side area trial at Corby Town this Sunday.

The Arsenal fan was released by Bristol City in the summer after six years in their youth setup and hopes to get a second chance to play in the Football League.

“I was really pleased to get through,” he told the Gazette.

“It’s another chance to fulfil my dream.”

Andrews, who is a student at the University of Bath, was one of 5,000 people to have entered the competition through facebook and was one of 360 people hand-picked to take part in the trials due to his impressive application.

The 88 players left are battling it out to be among the 11 players selected for the Final at the County Ground on Sunday, December 18, where Di Canio will watch them take on a Swindon Development squad before picking the winner.

Last year, striker Jordan Pavett became the first winner of the competition when then boss Danny Wilson handed him a one-year contract.

FootballCV head coach Danny Nicholls assessed Andrews at his regional trial.

Nicholls said: “Tom performed well at the trial. He impressed us with his ball skills and fitness. We’re looking forward to having another look at him in a proper match.

“The playing standard has been very high so far. The winner will need to demonstrate that he has the all-round talent to make it as a professional.”