Football: Auckland teen gets big shot

Lewis Tiller is a new recruit for West Ham United Under-18s. Photo / Dean Purcell

An Auckland teenager is knocking on the door of a premier football career after being selected to play for the West Ham United Under-18 squad in London.

Lewis Tiller, 17, moved to Auckland a year and a half ago from Dannevirke to further his football career, said his father, Deane Sutherland.

He was was one of about 300 youngsters asked to attend a training session a few months ago where West Ham officials were scouting for talent.

He was the only player from the session selected to be part of a training and development squad at West Ham's London base. But the more he played the more interested they became and he was instead chosen to be part of the famous club's Under-18 squad.

"You get a lot of under-18s who get picked up by the big clubs ... If you do well in that tournament you get picked up by a big club or even a Spanish club," Mr Sutherland said.

"If he does really well there may be a possibility that he doesn't come back. Worst case, if he plays the tournament it's just a great opportunity to learn and then bring that knowledge back to New Zealand."

The Year 12 Waiuku College student had made a rapid rise up the football ranks since his move to Auckland.

"In January, he trialled out for some under-16s in Papakura and someone said, 'oh we'll take you for the under-17s, you're a bit better'. Then after four weeks he was snapped up by Fencibles [Howick/Pakuranga] under-19s. He lasted not even five or six weeks and was picked up by the reserves, which is a men's team, would you believe."

He also got to play in the Chatham Cup Challenge, he said.

"From there things sort of skyrocketed and it was then he was asked to go along to this West Ham United drill.

"He went along and word spread and was part of the training and development squad and then promoted to the Under-18s."

Jim Evans, head coach and director of football at Lewis' club, Waiuku AFC, said the fact he was the only player to be selected out of Australasia was huge.

"Definitely, huge, it's a massive deal."

Lewis was a young, promising player who had benefited both physically and mentally from training and playing with his older teammates, he said.

So was he surprised by Lewis' selection?

"I would say yes because to actually be the one picked out of so many players is a feat in itself, it's a huge feat. So you have to be surprised and he's probably surprised too but am I surprised with his ambition and commitment to the sport? No."