THE future is bright at Bristol Rovers. One look at the Rovers' Under-13s record last season, and their early-season form this term will confirm it.

The potential is certainly there, and if nurtured correctly by academy director Stewart Naughton and his staff, Rovers could have some real talent on their hands.

None more so than Kyle Ford. The 12-year-old left winger, and cousin of ex-Bristol City and now QPR midfielder Josh Ford, is impressing all at the Memorial Stadium. And standing out in a team that recorded 24 wins from 29 league games last season, with only one defeat, is no easy feat.

Naughton is backing Ford to follow in Josh's footsteps: "He's a good prospect. He's in a team that only lost one game throughout the whole of last season, and that's against professional clubs.

"He's small within a big group, but he is passionate and tenacious, and does a good job. He has a good left foot and we like the way he plays, so he has got a lot of potential at Bristol Rovers."

Ford and his team-mates have started this season as they left off last term, with five wins out of six so far. That includes a 5-2 victory last weekend against Oxford United, the only team that beat them last season.

Kyle's dad, Garry Ford, a part-time scout at the club, is delighted with his son's progress with Rovers. He said: "I go all over the place watching Kyle. He started with Bristol City but we took him out and sent him to Rovers as we felt their younger coaches could relate to him a bit more.

"They had a fantastic season last year and only lost once. At the end of the season they went on the pitch at The Memorial Stadium and got a standing ovation from the Rovers faithful, which was nice."

And of Kyle's friendship with his cousin at QPR, Ford added: "Kyle idolises Josh. He's always checking their website to see what's going on with him. He really looks up to him, and he is a real role model to him.

"Kyle always says 'That's where I want to be'."

Josh is making good progress at Loftus Road, and Kyle is aiming to follow in his footsteps: "I'm really enjoying playing for Bristol Rovers. Josh is doing well and, hopefully, I can try and follow in his footsteps as a footballer.

"We have a really good team. Trey Anderson is really good and scores a lot of goals. I have got four goals in five games so far as well."

And Naughton is optimistic about the team's chances of progressing into a quality outfit.

"The Rovers system as a whole is working well at the moment.

"There are a lot of players in and around the first team that have come through the academy, and you won't see that at many clubs these days.

"They're a good team and a good group. Some of them have real potential. They have started the season well again, so hopefully they can keep going and get on a good run like they did last season.

"Although there are more fashionable clubs out there, we can offer these young lads a viable chance at an attainable goal, which is first-team football."

Kyle' sister, Amy, is also having a good season with St Nicholas Under 16s. Amy also plays for the Gloucestershire representative side.