TALENT spotter Kevin Leahy is not impressed by the standard of boys' football in the Basingstoke area.

A senior scout for Premiership side Southampton, he would dearly love to find a local star to make it to the top, but is not cheered by the standard of Peter Houseman Youth Football League matches he watches every Sunday.

Leahy has returned to the club that signed him as schoolboy in 1959 and he would love to give someone the chances he had.

He was snapped up by the south coast club's legendary manager Ted Bates. Although the then 15-year-old was just 4ft 11in tall, he was picked out from 80 other hopefuls at a trial.

He never made it into the first team, but has some 50 years of experience as a player and coach.

Born in Lower Brook Street, in Basingstoke, where he attended Fairfields School, he has remained faithful to his roots.

He now lives in Overton and is still optimistic that he will find the next Wayne Rooney on his doorstep.

A contemporary of Martin Chivers, Leahy (pictured above) has helped to raise the standard locally through coaching and also in his 16 years scouting for Portsmouth before rejoining Southampton.

Basingstoke, in recent years, has produced Welsh international Kit Symons, now assistant manager at Crystal Palace, and Rowan Vine. Before that, Chelsea player Tommy Langley came from Basingstoke.

Leahy would like to find somebody of similar potential to offer to Saints, but he laments: "Kids' football in Basingstoke is poor.".

He counts former Pompey and Saints boss Alan Ball among his footballing friends, along with Peter Osgood and Ted McDougall.

In his three years working for Southampton, he has worked under Ball, Glenn Hoddle, Gordon Strachan and Paul Sturrock.

"Alan Ball was a great character and was supreme with the kids, but he never talks about his own career," he said.

Leahy, who is 60, has one remaining football ambition to fulfil.

"Before I retire, I want to get a player into Saints' Academy," he said. "There must be good kids around.

"Basingstoke deserves to have kids go forward to a professional football club.

"Basingstoke's always been a bit of a football backwater. On a Sunday, I can watch matches on six pitches and see nothing."

What are the things he looks for when he watches players?

"The first two things I look for are body shape and the first touch."

Leahy honed his own skills as a player so that, although naturally right-footed, his left foot was equally as strong. "I could play anywhere, but my best positions were inside-left and inside-right."

Southampton wanted him to sign professional forms after joining as a 15-year-old, but his father insisted he learned a trade.

Leahy remained as an amateur while he became an engineering apprentice, but, nevertheless, broke into the Southampton A-team as a 16-year-old.

He spent four seasons at Saints and curiously made his A-team debut at Basingstoke in the Hampshire League, which then boasted a good standard of football.

In 1968, at the age of 24, Leahy passed his FA coaching badge and renewed it five years ago.

The footballing tradition has been carried on by his son Duncan Leahy, who played 12 games for Basingstoke Town at full-back.

"He's a very good young coach," said his proud dad.

Leahy Senior is also critical of the highest level of our national game and he believes England lack a single player of world class.

"David Beckham's the best crosser of the ball, but he's not the best footballer. He's never a Best, a Charlton or a Pele.

"He should just admit he didn't have a good European Championship. Everyone would respect him for that.

"Michael Owen is always looking for the ball over the top, but his game lacks other qualities.

"Frank Lampard is the most improved player in the Premiership, but there's nobody world-class like Bobby Moore or Bobby Charlton in 1966."