A talented young footballer from Westholme School has taken a major step forward in his sporting journey after signing a 12-month academy contract with Morecambe Football Club.
Seth Wilkinson, 12, from Guide, Blackburn, impressed coaches during a trial period with the club, earning his place ahead of schedule thanks to his talent, dedication and determination on the pitch.
Seth, who plays as a central midfielder, attended his official signing and induction at Morecambe’s first team stadium, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in his football career.
Seth, a Tottenham Hotspur fan, said: “It makes me feel very excited to have been signed. I am very proud. I train for two hours every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday and then there are games on Sundays. When we heard the news, my mum started crying. It was all a bit of a shock because we were not expecting to hear anything yet.”
Coaches at Morecambe praised Seth’s passing, shooting and confidence with the ball. Seth hopes to follow in the footsteps of his football hero, Ronaldo, and aims to go professional in the future. After his academy contract, he hopes to gain a scholarship.
Seth, who joined Westholme School in April, has already made his mark both on and off the pitch.
His mum, Emily, said: “Seth had joined his previous school on a football scholarship but just three weeks into his placement the school closed suddenly. Westholme came to the rescue and they have been fantastic and so supportive. Seth sat the entrance exam and has not looked back since.”
Before joining Morecambe, Seth spent 12 months with Blackburn Rovers’ youth team as part of their development squad. He was placed on an eight week trial with Morecambe in September but after just six weeks the coaches had seen enough to offer him the 12-month academy contract.
Football has been Seth’s passion since early childhood, beginning with the Under 5 Little Lions at Mill Hill Juniors and later Rishton United Under 7s.
Emily added: “It takes over all of our weeknights and weekends. He loves it!”
Balancing both sporting and academic commitments, Seth also plays for Westholme’s school football team and recently competed in a North West cross-country final before scoring five goals and providing two assists in a football match the same evening.
Seth said: “Westholme helped massively. I have after school football practice and fixtures at school. I want to say a massive thanks to Westholme for helping to make this possible.”
Paul Taylor, Principal at Westholme School, congratulated Seth.
“We are incredibly proud to share some exciting news about Seth. His commitment to training, positive attitude and ability to balance both his sporting and academic commitments have been truly commendable.
“We are delighted to celebrate Seth’s success and wish him every success as he takes this next step in his sporting development. His achievement is an inspiration to others, showing how perseverance, hard work and passion can turn opportunity into reality.”