ST MONICA'S student Aaron Morley has been named Bury Schoolboy Footballer of the Year.

The 16-year-old, of Station Road, Radcliffe, was awarded the annual Wilf Ainscow "Ranger" Trophy by the Rotary Club of Bury.

Aaron has just signed a two-year scholarship with Rochdale having already featured as a regular with their under-18s team.

He has previously played for the Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers academies

PhiI Emmott, secretary of the Rotary Club of Bury, said: "As someone who played twice at Wembley (gaining two Oxford University Soccer Blues) it gives me enormous pleasure to acknowledge Aaron’s sporting talents and achievements.

"I cannot envisage a more worthy recipient of this trophy.

“Aaron is an extremely talented footballer and a first class sportsman – he won voted his school’s footballer of the year and was runner-up in their sport personality of the year awards.

"His unquestionable ability is complemented by an exceptional attitude, desire and willingness to learn."

Aaron's nomination for the Bury Metro Schools Football Association award was equally glowing.

It stated: "Aaron is an outstanding sportsman and has been a tremendous ambassador for school sport. He is talented, determined, passionate, a great leader, role model and carries himself with great integrity."

Aaron captained St Monica's football team for all five years he was at the school, winning the Bury Cup five years in a row, the Bury five-a-side tournament and the Greater Manchester Cup twice.”

The “Ranger” Trophy is presented in memory of Wilf Ainscow, a long-serving member and past president of the Rotary Club of Bury who was part owner and editor of the Bury Times and covered Bury FC as a sports reporter under the pen-name "Ranger".