FIFTEEN year-old George Longmore is making an impact in volleyball as he becomes the youngest player for the England Under 17 cadet squad.

The Ridgeway School pupil only took up the sport five years ago, and despite having only training once a week he is already on track to be a star.

The teenager, who lives in Wroughton, made his international debut two weeks ago when he pitted his skills against teams from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark and the Faroe Islands in the Northern European Volleyball Zonal (NEVZA) Under 17 tournament in Kettering.

George started when he went along to an after-school club at Wroughton Junior School, run by ex-GB player Kelly Jones, who is now a level three volleyball coach with Swindon Council.

Since then, Kelly has pushed him to South West of England training and it was in May this year he was spotted there by scouts and impressed at a training camp four weeks ago.

“I’m ridiculously proud of him,” said Kelly.

“Just knowing other people in the squad are playing regularly in national and local leagues, where as George has only just started playing for a local league club, so for him to be selected is a massive achievement.

“It’s a massive achievement, he is the first Swindon volleyball player to be selected. The rest of them go to a school for volleyball so they are training four times a week, where as George trains only once a week.

“I knew he was going to be a good player because of his commitment to the sport and his ability.”

George gained four England caps during the tournament where the team came fourth after losing narrowly to Sweden in the bronze medal play-off.

Now the teenager will have his sights on the Youth Games in China next year.

“Having Kelly as a coach has impacted my life from a sporting perspective greatly,” said George.

“Kelly’s ability to inspire future generations is reflected by the standard we have reached in volleyball.”