IVYBRIDGE teenager Tom Moody is proving a soccer smash hit Stateside, writes Euan Reedie.

As we reported in August, the 19-year-old won a $30,000-a-year scholarship to Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky, to play for their successful side the Blue Raiders for the next four years.

And Moody told the Ivybridge Gazette he's having a whale of a time across the Atlantic, with his team the second best college football team in the country at the time of going to press.

A delighted Moody said: 'It's going great. I've met a lot of good people out here; the weather is amazing, the football is going good and I'm really enjoying myself.

'The standard of football is pretty good, which surprised me when I first came here.

'My team Lindsey Wilson College is currently ranked second in the country, and it is amazing for me to be a part of that.'

The teenager scored the third goal in his college's 10-0 rout of the University of Pikeville on Sunday, with a report on Lindsey Wilson's website calling it arguably the best strike of the match.

The report said: 'Arguably the most exciting goal of the game was Moody's strike to put the Blue Raiders up 3-0.

'Pettersson played a cross to his classmate from the left side that he took on one bounce and booted through the air into the far right corner of the goal.'

Moody says he has enjoyed seeing many different places in the States during his football odyssey.

He said: 'Because it's in season for football right now, we travel a lot for the games, so I've been lucky enough to see a lot of new places which I have never seen before like Florida, Alabama, Ohio, and a lot more. I've just recently come back from a week-long trip to Florida with the team, where we stayed in a beach hotel and played a game too.'

Moody's move has certainly been a big eye-opener. He's been particularly struck by the amount of food served in restaurants and how cheap it is.

The overwhelming size of places has also impressed him.

While overall wholly positive about his trip of a lifetime, he admitted he had suffered bouts of home sickness from time to time.

But he stressed: 'That's only when I have a bad day at training or a bad day in general. I do miss my mum's cooking, though.

'I am really enjoying myself and I have my parents to thank for that because they were able to sort this out for me and I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for them.'

Moody swapped rural Devon for a transatlantic stint after a coach from Sporting Futures USA David Binnie spotted him playing for City College, Plymouth and England Colleges and recommended him to top colleges in the States.

The left-footed attacking midfielder, who can play on either wing and who says his favourite player is Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, said he hopes his Stateside stint will be successful enough for him to be selected for the Major League Soccer superdraft.

'This involves the best college players cherry picked by MLS clubs and offered trials by professional football clubs around the world,' he explained.

While he is relishing his American adventure, he retains happy memories of his formative football career in Ivybridge.

'I have fond memories of playing football with my friends on any blade of grass in Ivybridge,' said the ex-Stowford Primary and Ivybridge Community College pupil.

Plymouth-born Moody, who moved to Ivybridge at the age of six, first joined town junior outfit Manstow FC.

At the age of nine, he was spotted by Plymouth Argyle youth scouts and was on the Pilgrims' books until he was 16.

He also represented Plymouth Schoolboys at U11, U14 and U15 levels and won the national schools' cup with Devon U16s at Birmingham City's St Andrew's ground

Abundant success at City College followed for Moody, who was a key part of their men's elite championship-winning side. He was also a member of the England Colleges' U19 side for two years running.

Moody's also experienced the rigours of local league football after turning out for Dawlish Town, Barnstaple Town and Taunton Town between the ages of 16 and 17.

But the teen prodigy admits he couldn't have achieved the success he has, including his scholarship, without the support of some key figures.

He said: 'I would like to thank Charlie Legg at City College Plymouth for helping me to get into the England Colleges' squad and David Binnie at Sporting Futures USA for securing me a place at one of the top colleges in the United States.

'I think other young players can go on and secure similar opportunities with dedication, fitness and a can-do attitude.'

Binnie reciprocated Moody's praise for him with a eulogy of his own. He said: 'Tom joined the Sporting Futures USA mentoring programme in 2010 and has been one of our most sought-after players. 'Tom is an extremely gifted player with terrific athleticism and pace.

'We are tipping him to become one of the college games stand-out performers and we are thrilled that he will be joining a team which can more than match his ambition.' Tom's proud mother Debbie said: 'We are very proud of Tom and his achievements to date and hope that this will be his opportunity to realise his lifelong dream to become a professional footballer.

'He is a strong character and will be well able to cope with being away from home. We will, of course, miss him and we will visit him in Kentucky as much as possible.

'He will be home for Christmas and the summer holidays, so we will be able to share his adventure with him.'

Lindsey Wilson are led by head coach Ray Well, who is in charge of the team for a 22nd season.

The seven-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national coach of the year has led the team to eight NAIA national titles.

He has guided the Blue Raiders to all 401 programme wins since creating the scheme from scratch in 1990.

Over the last 21 years, Wells had led Lindsey Wilson to a 401-67-22 win, draw, loss mark before the start of the season.