Schoolboy Derek Whitbread only took up ice hockey two years ago - because there was nothing good on TV on a boring Sunday afternoon.

Now he is playing for south-east England, dreaming of a professional career in the USA, and is on a rigorous diet and fitness regime.

Derek, 10, of Thackeray Road, Wickford, is one of the hottest stars in the all-conquering Chelmsford under-12 side.

His dad Kevin explained: "It started when we were at home and there was nothing on television.

"We went down to Chelmsford on the off-chance. There was a game on and Derek was hooked straight away.

"There was a piece in the club programme inviting youngsters to join, so I took him along. He did a six-week ice skating course, and hasn't looked back - even though a lot of the other players started when they were six or seven."

Derek, a pupil at Wickford's North Crescent School, so impressed in a six-minute debut as a Chelmsford under-10s substitute that he instantly won a regular place.

His rapid rise has continued this season, in an older age group, in which Chelmsford are poised to win the regional B league.

Derek said: "I really enjoy it. Ice hockey is my favourite sport - it's a fun game - but football is my second favourite."

His ultimate aims are to play for Great Britain at all levels - the first such team is at under-14 level - and for Washington Capitals in America.

Kevin, who used to be in the army, justified Derek's daily routine of training and healthy eating by saying: "If he wants to make it he knows he will have to work very hard.

"He has been given a personal programme by a coach. When he's not training with Chelmsford (Thursdays), playing football at school or playing ice hockey matches (Sundays), he does stretches and a 15-minute jog - or press-ups and sit-ups if it's raining.

"Occasionally he finds it a drag, but mostly he's willing to do it. If he can't make it to the very top abroad, he wants to play for the London Knights."

Derek Whitbread - is getting his skates on to join the ice hockey elite

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

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