James is the latest teenage soccer hero

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Tuesday 31st Dec 2002.

A HORSFORTH 16-year-old has become the latest teenage sensation to take football's the Premier League by storm.

Just months after switching his school desk for the Elland Road turf, former Horsforth School pupil James Milner now has his name written in the record books - and has had his name plastered across the back pages of national newspapers.

Not content with becoming Leeds United's youngest ever Premiership player after coming on as substitute against West Ham in November, James went on to score the winning goal for Leeds against Sunderland at The Stadium of Light on Boxing Day to make him the Premier League's youngest ever scorer.

James's goal eclipsed the record set earlier this season by Everton's Boy Wonder Wayne Rooney against Arsenal.

That was nine days before his 17th birthday - but the Coup de Grace came on Saturday when substitute James scored a stunning goal in the Premiership battle with high riding Chelsea at Elland Road which Leeds won 2-0.

It was all a far cry from playing for Westbrook Juniors in Horsforth and life at Horsforth School.

Rawdon soccer coach and teacher Graeme Coulson had James marked out as one to watch even at nine-years-old.

Graeme said: "I first came across him when I was refereeing a junior match involving Westbrook under nines at Horsforth. He was so outstanding then that I asked some of the Horsforth parents who he was.

"I noted his name and it was one not to be forgotten. He was an outstanding talent scoring lots of goal but he was also very strong.

"He then played for my Rawdon side in a number of tournaments. We lost to a very good Kirk Deighton side in a tournament at Otley but James scored. We then entered a prestigious tournament at Rawdon Meadows which we won with a 6-0 scoreline in the final and James scored four of them."

His former school has also paid tribute to his achievements.

Horsforth School spokeswoman Fran Morris said: "He was a first class student and he did really well at his GCSEs.

"He was very sporty at school and he won the PE prize which was handed out just before we broke up. He was the most wonderful young man and he was very popular, so we wish him all the best in his career. I am very sure he will do well and we are all proud of him at the school."

As well as soccer he showed great talent at cricket playing for Yorkshire Schools and also excelled as an athlete, both over long distances - he was Leeds Schools cross-country champion for three successive years - and over the sprint distances - again district 100 metres champion for successive years.

The young Milner was a season ticket holder at Elland Road along with his parents Peter and Lesley before becoming a ball boy and getting closer to the action.

James joined the Leeds United Academy after being spotted playing for Westbrook in Horsforth. He made good progress at at the end of the school year was taken on as a trainee.

He continued working away improving his skills with United's youth teams and has played for England at Under-15 and Under-17 levels.

James celebrates his 17th birthday on Saturday and with it a new contract with Leeds.

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