Shropshire teen hockey star answers Scotland call

Callum Mackenzie, aged 13, has been selected to join the Scottish Under-16 boys training team after successfully coming through a trial last month.

The Telford & Wrekin forward, who lives in Lilleshall, went to Perth in November where he took part in a training session watched by the team's coaches.

Callum took part in a series of fitness drills as well as specialist coaching for forwards and a practice game pitting the training team against the U16 development squad, which represents the next rung down on the international ladder.

Callum, who attends Adams Grammar School in Newport, will take part in his first Scotland training session next weekend in Edinburgh. Further sessions and matches will follow in the New year.

Callum has become the second member of his family to represent Scotland at hockey.

His mother Sandra, who plays for Telford & Wrekin ladies, is a member of the Scottish master ladies team, for players over 40.

She said: "It is just great news. He works hard at his hockey and he has been playing at Telford & Wrekin since he was five.

"He is thrilled. He set himself targets at the start of the year to get into the UK Lions invitational team and to be invited to a high-performance camp in Kent in October.

"He did both of those but this was beyond what he would have expected."

Telford & Wrekin have another international success as fellow forward Kyle Gladwin, aged 15, has been selected to join the Scotland Under-16 Development team.