SOCCER: A young goalkeeper from Ipswich has returned from playing in a top tournament in Italy.Paul Cudworth was accompanied by three other members of the Under-19 team from West Suffolk College Football School as he represented English Colleges FA in the annual Torneo Europa Dilettanti (European Amateur Tournament) at Cesenatico in northern Italy.

SOCCER

A YOUNG goalkeeper from Ipswich has returned from playing in a top tournament in Italy.

Paul Cudworth was accompanied by three other members of the Under-19 team from West Suffolk College Football School as he represented English Colleges FA in the annual Torneo Europa Dilettanti (European Amateur Tournament) at Cesenatico in northern Italy.Cudworth, who was joined by striker Alex Harrison, football school captain Ian Miller and Stowmarket-based James Evans, who was a late replacement for Steve Sladden.

"Steve had to drop out through injury," said Cudworth. "I only had a couple of days to prepare.

"I had never been to Italy before, but have loads of Italian friends.

"Our hotel was five minutes walk from the beach and we had a couple of afternoons off."

England found themselves in the toughest group along with Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Romania, with Harrison scoring a 25-yard free-kick against the Czechs.

Cudworth played in the final game against Romania.

"It was my debut for English Colleges FA. We lost 3-0, but it was a great experience – I'll never forget it," he said.

Although England failed to progress to the next stage, all the boys were delighted to have taken part.

Danny Laws, head coach at the Bury St Edmunds-based football school, said: "I was particularly pleased that Paul Cudworth made his debut. He is an outstanding goalkeeper and doesn't have any real weaknesses.

"All four boys have been regulars for the Football School, Suffolk County FA Under-18s and Suffolk Schools Under-19s.

"Their selection is a justification of their ability. We will be looking to get more players in the squad next season."

Evans, an 18-year-old right winger, was been a West Suffolk College regular last season and also spent six weeks with Fulham.