ONE of Pickering Town’s own prodigies made the community proud on Saturday night, as Billy Fewster made his senior debut for Premier League side Nottingham Forest.

Fewster played for Pickering from ages eight until 11 in their youth side, before impressing scouts at Leeds United and transitioning to join the academy at the West Yorkshire outfit. 

The 19-year-old was handed his first start for the club by boss Steve Cooper, alongside new signing Gustavo Scarpa, as Forest took on Sky Bet Championship strugglers Blackpool in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup at Bloomfield Road.

However, despite his side being 27 places above their opponents in the football pyramid and enjoying the lion’s share of possession, Forest would eventually bow out of the cup following a 4-1 defeat in Lancashire.

After having made an impressive start to the Premier League 2 division 2 season, in which his side currently sit fourth, the highly-rated starlet was given 65 minutes before being replaced by Ryan Yates, with the scoreline still poised at 2-0.

At 17-years-old Fewster was catching the eye for Leeds in their under-18’s side, netting two goals in 14 appearances from a deeper midfield role before making the switch to Nottingham Forest in the Summer. 

The offer of a professional deal at Forest was too hard for Fewster to turn down, especially as the Reds had just gained promotion from the Sky Bet Championship by defeating Leeds’ rivals Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the play-off final.

Fewster went onto impress in the under-23’s at Forest, making eight appearances and being called up to the first team for the Reds’ Carabao Cup victory over Sky Bet League Two side Grimsby Town, although Fewster did not get a chance off of the bench. 

Pickering were quick to praise Fewster on social media, with the midfielder responding with a simple love heart to show his appreciation to his former club.