Ingall to follow in Beckham's footsteps (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Ingall to follow in Beckham's footsteps

10:07am Thursday 29th May 2008 in Football

Football: Corsham Town ace Tom Ingall is to follow in the footsteps of David Beckham by playing football in the USA, after winning a scholarship to a top American university.

The 17-year-old will spend three years studying exercise science at West Virginia Wesleyan College, starting in August, after impressing their scouts at training sessions.

But the Wiltshire under 18s midfielder is looking forward more to playing soccer' for the college's league-winning football team, the Bobcats.

Ingall, in his last year of a BTEC National diploma in Sport at Wiltshire College, said: "The facilities and ethos of USA college sport are my main reasons for wanting to play in America.

"They worship athletes over there, whereas over here there's more of a drinking culture."

He described USA college soccer as a developing game and of similar standard to Blue Square Premier Division football in England.

Ingall's opportunity came along after he took part in trials held by Sports 4 Soccer, an American soccer scholarship consultancy.

He was selected in their 17-man squad to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, in March, and impressed West Virginia coach Gavin Donaldson in the 24-degree training sessions.

Ingall said: "America was brilliant, there were so many fast-food places I didn't want to come back.

"I can't wait to get started."

Corsham assistant boss Graham Learmonth wishes Ingall well and said: "Tom has done ever so well whenever he's played for us.

"He's a good character and a good footballer, he's only a little battleship but he's a strong boy with a good left foot.

"Whenever he's back in England he'll always be welcome down at the Southbank. It would be great to see him here again."