AT JUST 19-years-old, Ipswich Town star Liam Trotter is on course for big things.Today, his proud mother spoke of her joy at seeing him score his first goal during his home debut.

AT JUST 19-years-old, Ipswich Town star Liam Trotter is on course for big things.

Today, his proud mother spoke of her joy at seeing him score his first goal during his home debut.

The fearless midfielder, who has not featured in the first team since Joe Royle handed him a cameo debut at Plymouth, scored one of the vital goals in the Blues' derby match against Colchester.

He headed in an Owen Garvan corner in the match which ended 3-1 to Ipswich.

Today, his mum, Kim Trotter, 38, who watched the game with friends and family in the Greene King stand, said the young player has been on cloud nine since the win.

Ms Trotter, of Hervey Street, off Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, said: “He could not stop smiling after the match. He was ecstatic.

“I am notoriously bad at not seeing him score goals. It is a family joke that I always miss the goals because I'm not looking or go to the toilet or something, so I am so pleased I saw this one.

“At first I did not realise it was him but started jumping up and down anyway and then one of his friends said 'that was Liam'. It was a great goal and was really nice that he scored against Colchester.”

Born and bred in Ipswich, Trotter, who lives with his mum, was always a keen footballer and played for a number of local teams before he got his big break with Ipswich Town at the age of 16 when he was spotted at the Bury Football School.

Trotter, who has been with girlfriend Lauren Tyrell for three years, was given a two-year contract with Town last August but his mother said she hopes he has no plans to leave home just yet.

She added: “I hope he is not going to move out anytime soon because I am just decorating his room.

“He just wants to play football, be in the first team and help Ipswich move up the table. The worst thing for him is staying on the bench - he loves playing for his hometown.

“It was even better that he scored the goal against Colchester because he had trials with them twice and they let him go.

“Playing football has been the only thing he has ever wanted to do - like most boys I suppose.”

Trotter's start to a promising future in football has echoes of a former Town player's rise to fame.

Jason Dozzell first hit the headlines when he became the youngest player to ever score in the old English first division at just 16 years and 57 days.

Dozzell, who later went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur, was still a pupil at Chantry High School at the time and was pictured going back to school the following day.

Speaking on the ninth win in a row for the Blues, Jim Magilton said: “Liam has a wonderful knack of scoring goals from midfield and he was in the right place to score.”

What did you think of Mr Trotter's performance? Write to us at Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

Trotter was born on August 24, 1988

He is 6ft 2ins, and weighs about 12st 4lbs

He played for a number of teams in his youth, including Ransomes, Woodbridge, Achilles and the Witnesham Wasps.

He went to St Helen's Primary School, Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, before moving on to Northgate High School, Sidegate Lane, Ipswich.

At the age of 16, most thought he wouldn't reach his goal of being a professional footballer but then he went off to Bury Football School at West Suffolk College and was spotted to try out for ITFC.