STEVEN CROWCOMBE has proved he is a talented young sportsman for all seasons by playing indoor football for Bristol City in the winter and outdoor bowls for Gloucestershire in the summer.

The 16-year-old from Cam has excelled in a number of sports, including table tennis and basketball, and became the youngest person to win the premier men’s singles competition at Cam Mills Bowls Club last summer, while also representing the county at under-25 level.

However, his first love is football and he is currently doing a B-Tech football scholarship at Ashton Gate, admitting it is his dream to earn a professional contract with the Championship club, where he was a season ticket holder when he found out about the scholarship.

After a successful trial and interview, Crowcombe started the two-year course last September which allows him to play Futsal, played on smaller pitches with five players on each side, where Bristol City come up against the likes of Bristol Rovers, Birmingham City and West Brom in a regional league.

There is also an educational side to the course and Crowcombe has set his sights on a career in coaching.

He said: “Filton and Hartpury do the same course but Bristol City offer the chance to play for a professional club.

“I’m not the biggest or the quickest, it’s more about ability than physical attributes so it helps me shine a bit more.

“There is a slight chance if someone impresses that they could get a trial or offered a contract.

“I’d rather focus on coaching but if the academy made an offer I’d be delighted.

“My dream has always been to be a footballer and I’ll never give up but I’m always looking further forward.

“I’m hoping to get a few coaching badges and work my way up, get a job in a couple of schools as a suitable base for coaching and hopefully one day I’ll move abroad to coach in Spain or America.”

Crowcombe was inspired to become a coach by his dad, who was the youth team manager for the Cam Everside side he was a part of until he was 14-years-old.

The striker also played for Frampton youth and stepped up to senior football with Cam Bulldogs this season, where he quickly progressed from the thirds to the seconds before missing almost two months with a broken foot.

His parents were also a big influence in getting him into bowls when he was nine-years old as he was keen to play after watching them at Cam.

Crowcombe tasted success for the first time last year, winning the club’s mixed singles trophy as well as the men’s singles competition, and it has made him hungry for more.

He is hoping to progress into the senior county team in time, but treats the game more as a hobby and says it has helped him mature.

“In football I always want to get as high as possible and win all the time and if I don’t it’s the end of the world but bowls is a more enjoyable game,” said Crowcombe.

“It’s only when I got to the finals (at Cam) when I thought I’ve got to win this. This year will be much different because I’ll go in with expectations and if I play for the county it will be more high profile.

“Being the youngest to win the men’s singles is brilliant and the club are really proud.

“If I get offered to play at a higher level I’d take it but if not I’ll continue enjoying it.

“As you get better it’s really enjoyable and I would suggest it to a lot of people.”

Crowcombe’s sporting talent has not just been spotted in football and bowls. While at Rednock School, he was top points scorer for the basketball team and told he could play at county level and represented Gloucestershire at table tennis, but opted not pursue either any further, and he was also a talented cricketer and rugby player.