Cheltenham Town move is dream come true for Jack

Stockwood youngster Jack Durrant has bounced back from the disappointment of rejection to earn a first professional football contract.

The former Broadlands School pupil has been on the books of Cheltenham Town since being released by Bristol Rovers three years ago.

And Durrant, 17, who embarked on his football dream as a junior at Bristol City, managed to catch the eye of Cheltenham boss Martin Allen whilst training with the first team recently.

He was one of two scholars offered 12-month deals with the option of another year by Allen last week and made his professional debut as a substitute in Cheltenham's FA Cup defeat at Doncaster ten days ago.

It is a recent turn of events that Durrant describes as "a dream come true" after fearing his hopes of a career in the game had been extinguished following his exit from the Memorial Stadium club.

He said: "I was released by Rovers at the end of the Under-14 season and it was a big disappointment.

"It can be hard to take when you are told you are not good enough.

"It took me a couple of weeks to sort my head out and get focused on my football again."

Durrant returned to play for local side Brislington before Cheltenham offered a life-changing six-week trial.

"To be told the manager thought I was good enough to earn a pro contract was brilliant," Durrant said.

"I have had to work hard to improve my fitness since the start of the season because that was holding me back.

"I have also had to be better disciplined and learn to control my temper during games.

"Those changes have really helped me and I am going to work even harder now and try and push on to the next level."

"It was a bit of a lucky break to get asked to train with the senior players and I just tried to make the most of my chance.

"The ultimate aim is to get regular first-team appearances because to make my debut at Doncaster was a special night for me and I want more of that."