LEIGHWOOD United’s successful under-eight team have all gone on to sign deals with professional clubs.

All eight of the five-a-side team will leave the team to link up with pro clubs, with five of the team signing one-year under-nine deals with Southend United.

Riley Scopes, Harry Jackson, Will Harding, Charlie Campling and Louis Bragg have all signed for Blues after impressing for Leighwood this season.

Cameron Foster has been picked up by Arsenal, while Lester Ward and Louie Copley have agreed terms with West Ham United.

All the boys had come through the 3Lions Academy, a programme aimed at getting children involved in football, prior to their time at Leighwood.

And their coach Danny Scopes, a former manager at Conference South side Concord Rangers, says he is so pleased with the progress made by the boys, who have all come through the team’s youth set-up.

“It is a proud moment,” he said, having guided them through the under-sevens and under-eights. “The boys are all very hard-working and for them to get this opportunity is great for them. It has been good working with them for the past two years as you can really push them and see the results.

“I have been pushed as well so we have both improved from the experience.”

Scopes added the team, who play in the South East Essex Mini Soccer League, have another strong batch of youngsters coming through the system for next season.