A TEENAGE footballer is getting ready to swap Dunbar for the chance to pull on his gloves for a university side halfway around the world.

Jamie Wilson, who was previously with Rangers and Dunfermline Athletic, is gearing up for the trip of a lifetime as he signs up at Cape Breton University, in Nova Scotia, Canada.

A fundraiser is being held this weekend in West Barns Bowling Club to help the 19-year-old on his way.

His mum, Lesley, told the Courier: “He has been thinking about this for a while.

“He was let go by Dunfermline when the new manager came in and there were players out of contract.

“They had a complete reshuffle and he was really gutted and it put him on the backburner for a while.

“He has been playing for West Barns Star and has kept his hand in but he has been thinking about looking at going to the USA.

“One of his friends, Kai Wilson, who played professional football, went to Australia and Jamie had messaged him about it.

“He then e-mailed Sporting Futures and they got in contact with him.”

The first contact was just a month ago and next Thursday (August 25) he heads out to Canada to become goalkeeper for the university's football team.

At the same time, he is hoping to begin coaching and sign up for a four-year Sport and Physical Activity Leadership (SPAL) course.

The course will look at coaching, health and wellness, outdoor leadership and sport management and administration.

Mum-of-four Lesley said: “The coaches have been brilliant, the goalkeeping coach has been brilliant, we've been invited over.

“The captain keeps in contact with Jamie on a daily basis as well.”

The fundraiser, which has seen local businesses make donations to a raffle, gets under way on Saturday (August 20) at 8pm.

Already, the family has managed to raise more than £1,200 to help the former Dunbar Grammar School pupil.

She added: “He is buzzing to say the least.”

Jamie, who previously attracted interest from Hibs and Aberdeen, first joined up with Rangers at under-14 level after attracting their interest while with Dunbar Colts.

He spent a couple of years with the Ibrox side before moving on to East End Park, where he worked under Scottish League Cup winner Brian Potter.