Lee learning fast

With a father who played 21 times for England and a brother who made his Football League debut in April, Elliot Lee has plenty of experience to call upon as he tries to make his way in the beautiful game.

The 16-year-old centre forward has recently agreed a two-year scholarship with West Ham United, the club he has represented for the past nine seasons.

Under the guidance of his famous Dad, the former West Ham, Newcastle United and England midfielder Rob, and 19-year-old brother Olly, who enjoyed a loan spell at Dagenham & Redbridge earlier this year, the teenager is ready to take the next step towards following in their footsteps and becoming a full-time professional.

While a first-team debut may still be some years away, the goal-hungry striker is already showing signs of fulfilling his immense potential, scoring a hat-trick in the final FA Premier Academy League fixture of the season at Chelsea and making an eye-catching reserve-team debut at Blackburn Rovers in April.

"I've been at the club since I was seven-years-old so it's good news to have signed my scholarship," Lee told West Ham TV. "I want to push on and hopefully cement my place in the reserve team, if possible, and to keep on scoring goals.

"It was really good to get the hat-trick. [Academy Director] Tony Carr has pushed me on into the Under-18s since Christmas from the Under-16s and I think I've done quite well, so it's been good to play for them."

While Carr and his coaching staff concentrate on honing Lee's skills at Little Heath, at home dad Rob and brother Olly ensure he keeps his feet firmly on the ground.

"There is loads of banter about, what with all the football in the family, but it's all good. My Dad is a great help to me. He speaks to me after every game and he always offers me great advice and I'll always listen to him and hopefully it'll lead me places."