Ben Leonard, who plied his trade with Hallam last season, is on the verge of joining League Two outfit Bury on a professional contract.

The This Is Lincolnshire website reports that it is a meteoric rise for the 23-year-old midfielder.

Two months ago, he was lining-up for Pack Horse Celtic in the final of the Meadowhall Sunday League Cup in his hometown of Sheffield.

Leonard was one of several trialists on show during the 1-0 victory over Radcliffe Borough last week, where he impressed sufficiently to earn a 12-month deal at Gigg Lane.

The young midfielder had also played for Dinnington Town in the Northern Counties League, an organisation which also reared former Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United star Scott Sellars.

He was spotted by chief scout Gary Simpson playing parks football and director of football, Keith Alexander, who has never been afraid to dip his toe into the non-league waters in the past, hopes Leonard will continue his progress at Bury.

First team boss Chris Casper has also been impressed with Leonard during his first full week at the club - and said the player can cope with his Roy of the Rovers entrance into league football.

"It's what Bury Football Club is all about," said Casper.

"Ben is very effective and he deserves his shot. He hasn't been in a professional environment before, but he is a grafter.

"He is a plasterer by trade, so he knows what a hard day's work is all about. He is a very physical and competitive midfielder, which is hard to find these days."