It was perhaps only a matter of time before Darlington's latest sensation Clark Keltie made it as a professional footballer.

After all, he'd plied his trade as a raw teenager with the famous Wallsend Boys Club, renowned for producing a regular crop of stars which includes Alan Shearer, Paul Gascogine and, of all people, his current boss Mick Tait.

Wallsend secretary Kevin Bell has watched with interest Keltie's rise into the professional game.

However, he still has one outstanding memory of the talented youngster.

"He was a bit of an extrovert and for some strange reason would always bring his slippers along if we were playing in a tournament away from home," said Bell.

Odd luxuries aside, Bell has nothing but complimentary words for Keltie, who joined Wallsend when he was 14.

"He was what I would call a footballer," added Bell. "I selected him for our Gillette Select side which consists of the best players from each team we have.

"I was surprised there weren't more teams looking at him because he's a really talented lad."

The story of the 19-year-old, brought up in Newcastle's West End, is one many youngsters can only dream about.

Just two years ago Keltie was studying Business Studies at St. Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle and spending his Saturday afternoon's turning out for local side Walker Central in the Fairs Software Tyneside League.

In the canteen at the Darlington's Maiden Castle training ground, Keltie proudly shows off some of his old team photos, including a picture of the victorious St Cuthbert's under-19 team which won the All England Schools' Cup at West Bromwich Albion's Hawthorns ground.

Keltie looks no different posing in his college colours. And why wouldn't he? This was barely three years ago.

By his own admission football always got the nod over study time, even after he enrolled on a business course.

"I was studying Business, but to be honest, I wasn't really interested in that," said Keltie.

"When I was at school and at college the only thing I could think about was football. All I ever wanted to do was play football and I didn't really give much thought to anything else."

At the age of seven Keltie played for his first Sunday league team with Byker and by the time he'd reached 11 the Newcastle-mad youngster was skipping past players just like his idol Zinedine Zidane.

Keltie never had a favourite Newcastle player, it was French maestro Zidane he adopted as a role model.

"I'd always modelled myself on Zidane as an attacking midfielder but now that I'm in a more defensive role I try to style my play similar to Steven Gerrard," said Keltie.

Keltie reveals the biggest influence on his career has been his father, Stuart.

"My dad has always been there, through the good times and the bad," he said. "He's always supported me and been there for me."

After an unsuccessful trial with Sunderland, Keltie was eventually spotted by Darlington, playing for Walker Central in the North Tyneside Festival in summer 2001.

And despite interest from Chelsea and Sunderland, Keltie agreed to join Gary Bennett's Quakers at the start of the 2001/02 season, linking up with former school chum Mark Sheeran.

After patiently biding his time in the reserves, Keltie was handed his first opportunity at Oxford on the final day of last season, coming on as a second-half substitute for Paul Campbell.

And Keltie admitted it took some time before finally settling in.

"When I first came in I was very nervous and I was nowhere near the player I knew I could be," he said. "The rest of the lads have been brilliant with me and now I feel a lot more settled."

Keltie never really featured again until Tommy Taylor's final game in charge earlier this season, making his full debut in the LDV Vans Trophy at Stockport in October.

Since then the midfielder's emergence has been nothing short of breathtaking, with a string of solid displays which were rewarded in December when he signed a new two-and-a-half year deal with the club.

Tait showed just how much faith he has in the youngster when he made him captain for the visit of Southend in November.

Keltie has already received the backing of his manager to go on and play at a higher level and after a more than satisfying year's work in 2002, who knows what lies ahead for 2003.

Read more about the Quakers here.