Below is an article from the Bristol Evening Post on Tuesday Sept 30, 2008.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/sport/Jack-s-gearing-England-debut/article-361506-detail/article.html

Jack's gearing up for England debut

Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 08:00

CITY and Rovers have let a jewel slip through their fingers but teenage Bristol goalkeeper Jack Butland has his grip on a greater prize – his first England cap.

The towering 15-year-old from Clevedon has been called up to the England Under-16s squad for their Victory Shield opener against Northern Ireland, which is being shown live by Sky Sports on Friday (7.40pm).

Butland, who still attends Clevedon Community school, signed for Birmingham City' s academy at the age of 14 following a whirlwind six-month spell which saw him progress from his local Clevedon United side to the then Premier League outfit thanks in part to a stint with the Jamie Shore Football Academy in Bristol.

England were nearly denied his talents though as his dad, Matt, revealed.

"We are a rugby family," he said. "My dad and I both played for Somerset. I was a No 8 and my dad (Jack's grandad) was a centre."

Jack began his sporting career as a No 8 in the mould of his father. But his talents as a shot-stopper quickly came to the fore, helped by his love of Manchester United and his idol Edwin Van der Sar.

Butland is now just one inch in height and one football division below the 6ft 5in United keeper and his dream, along with a full England cap, is to appear for the Blues at the Theatre of Dreams.

Jack will turn 16 in March when he will hear if he has earned a two-year modern apprenticeship with Birmingham and the England call-up has helped to prove that he is on-track to achieve it.

He said: "I have not been at this level of football for very long. The England call-up will take a while to sink in. Two years ago I was playing against my friends on a Sunday afternoon."

Butland now trains with the Blues' first team and revealed striker Marcus Bent comes closest in the tricks stakes to his favourite outfield player, Cristiano Ronaldo.

A highlight for the youngster are the regular penalty shoot-outs after training and he has even upset one of the big names with his ability.

"Gary McSheffery likes to think he's the best penalty taker," said Butland of Brum's £4 million acquisition from Coventry.

"I saved one and someone told me it's the first time a youth team keeper saved one of his penalties for two years.

"It's a privilege to train with the first team keepers at Birmingham. (Alex) McLeish and (Steve) Bruce before him always talk to us.

"You just have to take your chances, I just have to stick with it and work hard. But it's started brilliantly."

Former Aston Villa keeper Nigel Spink was key in Birmingham's recruitment of Butland. Spink was working as a coach at the club under former manager Bruce when Jack went for a trial, and his manner and enthusiasm made an immediate impression.

"Birmingham were very down to earth," added his dad, Matt. "We heard some horror stories about clubs academies. We trialled with Birmingham first and I liked the way they conducted themselves. It just seemed right for Jack. We didn't have any contact from the Bristol clubs so we didn't try out with them. He slipped under their radar."