Wonderkid Walcott won't forget his roots

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Saturday 21st Jan 2006.

THEO Walcott has never forgotten the part Swindon Town played in transforming him from young hopeful to Premiership superstar, writes JON RITSON.

The 16-year-old completed his switch from Southampton to Arsenal yesterday for a fee which could eventually cost the Gunners £12m.

Former Town youth development officer Jimmy Fraser, now part of the youth set up at Premiership champions Chelsea, the club which lost out in the chase never doubted that the teenager would shine.

Walcott was spotted by a Town scout as a 10-year-old playing for a Newbury schools side and was signed by Town to their Centre of Excellence.

Sadly, he was to be tempted away to Southampton barely a year later, Town receiving altogether less than the £12m Southampton will bank.

Fraser said: "I remember meeting Theo for the first time.

"He'd only just started playing football.We soon realised he was very quick, a great asset to have and he stood out unbelievably.

"Basically he is a phenomenal talent. He's a lovely lad with a good background.

"I was watching a Southampton youth game at the start of the season. He turned up to watch before their first team game and he remembered who I was, we got talking and it was clear he hadn't forgotten his roots and Swindon Town."

Fraser sees no reason why Walcott cannot flourish on the Premiership stage.

He said: "Theo has the potential to be whatever he wants to be.

"We were unable to keep hold of him, he moved on and I'd like to wish him all the very best."

Fraser's only reservation is that the British way of hyping to the hilt doesn't hit Walcott.

He said: "I just hope we don't get a situation, which we've seen before, where we build someone up to knock them down."

Walcott's new boss Arsene Wenger believes the teenager can emulate the achievements of Wayne Rooney, the last high-profile teenager to emerge in English football.

Walcott cannot sign a professional contract until his 17th birthday on March 16 and so will join the Barclays Premiership club as a scholar until then.

When asked whether Walcott could be compared to England and Manchester United striker Rooney, Wenger said: "At his age, yes.

"Wayne Rooney has achieved a lot, and I want to be cautious with comparisons.

"But he has the same ingredients at the same age to be a big prospect for England."

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