A young football prospect has double reasons to celebrate this week, after putting pen to paper for a Football League club.

Liverpool supporter Joel Tabiner celebrated his team winning their first English League title of his lifetime before signing a two-year scholarship with newly-promoted League One club Crewe Alexandra.

The 16-year-old, who leaves Wirral Grammar School this term and was unable to sit his GCSE exams, has been making an impression on the pitch from an early age.

The former Heygarth and Victoria Colts midfielder was training with Everton at the age of four before moving to boyhood club Liverpool, where he stayed until he was nine.

He was eventually spotted by the Railwaymen when he was 11 and is now on the road to what he hopes will lead to his first professional contract in two years time.

Speaking about the situation with his exams, Joel's dad Mark said: "He wanted to take his exams, it's just unfortunate that he couldn't, but he's a happy with the marks that he thinks he's going to get."

Since playing for Crewe's academy, Mark explained the number of hours of sacrifice that have to be put in just for Joel to meet his commitments.

In one week, he had to drive him to Leeds United, Hull City and Nottingham Forest for three consecutive away matches.

The left-footed midfielder can play in either an attacking or defensive role.

Crewe have a history of producing top footballers, including David Platt and ex-Liverpool stars Rob Jones and Danny Murphy.