Everyone at Calmore Sports Club would like to offer their congratulations to Callum Stanton, who has been awarded his first professional football contract with AFC Bournemouth this week.

18-year-old Callum, who has played cricket for Calmore Sports since playing in the Under 9s, has been rewarded for his outstanding performances for the Premier League outfit as a goalkeeper in the Under 21 squad.

Callum is one of six players from the youth set-up to graduate to the full-time ranks, one of two former Testwood schoolboys to make the grade alongside midfielder Matt Worthington.

The highly talented sportsman, who recorded his first senior century in 2014 when he hit 109 for the Fourth XI away at Shrewton, will now concentrate on his footballing career but will certainly not be a stranger to the club.

It is a wonderful reward for Callum who started his footballing career at Pace FC in their Under 8s and then went on trial to Chelsea for some two months but was spotted by AFC Bournemouth during a game and, despite playing for Southampton schoolboys and the Hampshire representative side whilst at school – playing in two National Finals with Southampton Schools at Under 11 and Under 13, he took up the opportunity with the Dean Court club.

He has played for the Cherries since he was 15 – playing in their Under 18s team at the time – and was in the league winning U18 team last season.

Callum, who uses his goalkeeping skills to good effect when playing cricket too by taking the wicket-keeping gloves on many occasions – including taking an incredible six stumpings in one game for the Under 9s when he first started playing cricket.

The future is certainly bright for ‘Cal’ who has played in every single match for the Under 18s this season in the Youth Alliance League and has been called up to the Under 21s on four occasions as well.  He is also due to travel with the first team to Dubai in March during the international break.

Calmore Sports Club would like to extend a huge congratulations to Callum and wish him every success in his footballing career.  It is hoped that he will make the very odd appearance for the club on the field but his footballing endeavours will take priority as he looks to progress into the full first XI squad.

Good luck Callum!