THIRTEEN-year-old Tom Costley, who hit his maiden OCA League century for Ducklington this season, has been rewarded with a place in Gloucestershire’s junior academy this winter.

The youngster (pictured), who played for Oxfordshire Under 13s, was awarded a £500 scholarship grant from the Brian Johnstone Memorial Trust in April to support his county training and kit costs.

And he has also been invited to attend the first trial stages for next year’s Under 15 Bunbury Festival for the south and west region – despite being a year younger than most of the other trialists.

Costley will be closely monitored by coaches and managers prior to final squad selection in the spring.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to the training and coaching that Gloucestershire will give me.

“I know that it will be a lot of hard work, however.

“The three-day trial was really tough, but it was worth it to get through.”