ZAC BERRY has signed for Premiership club Reading after starring for Cirencester Town over the past two seasons. Zac is eight years old.
The pupil at Powells School in Cirencester had also been offered contracts by both Swindon Town and Bristol City but has opted for Reading after spending two years at their Development Centre.
Left-footer Zac, who regularly scores four or five goals a game, has played his last match for Cirencester Town, for whom he picked up the U8s Player of the Year award recently.
Next season he will be required to train three times a week at Reading in addition to playing Sunday matches.
"Zac was first spotted a couple of years ago playing in a six-a-side tournament in Highworth by Nick Bolton, who is the Reading FC Academy Foundation Coach and Area Head Scout in Swindon," said Zak's dad Marc.
"Zac was among some 100 boys who went to Nick's Development Centre and they were filtered down to about 20 who have gone on to train at Reading twice a week and play against the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal.
"He became old enough to sign a contract with Reading for the first time in April and will play for their U9 Academy next season."
A Liverpool supporter, whose favourite player is Steven Gerrard, Zac dreams of playing professional football.
"Zac already knows about the sacrifices that have to be made because when he could be playing with his mates after school, he leaves to go training," said Marc.
Zac is not the only member of the Siddington-based Berry family with an eye on a professional football career. His two-year younger brother Jimmy has followed the same path to the Reading FC Development Centre in Swindon.
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