Play it again Sam for inspirational star

Eardley, from Market Drayton, has helped Wales Under-23s capture the Celtic Cup for the first time in the competition's history.

The 22-year-old shooting guard-point guard played a key role as the team won all four of their matches against Scotland and Ireland to lift the trophy in Bangor, Northern Ireland.

Having endured three second-placed finishes in four years in the competition with Wales previously, Eardley said: "It is probably up there with anything I have won.

"I have had a lot of second-placed finishes in the competition, but this is my first win in it so it is probably at the top of my list of achievements."

Wales made a flying start to the three-day event, defeating Scotland 59-50 and Ireland 52-38.

They followed it up by beating Scotland 40-38 in a final day nail-biter, which confirmed Wales as champions, before wrapping up the competition with a 46-24 win over Ireland.

Eardley, who has been in the Wales set-up for five years, had an inkling prior to the tournament that this year's team might have the necessary quality to succeed where previous versions had failed.

He said: "We knew we had a very strong squad. We had quite a few training sessions before the competition and it did feel like our strongest team for some time.

"We did have one lad – Phillip Pratt – who was missing because he was playing for Great Britain which we knew would affect us.

"He is one of our play-makers but we had such a strong squad that we could rely on other players to help out in his absence."

Having secured the illusive trophy, Eardley is already looking to the future.

The former Adams Grammar School pupil will be unable to repeat his latest triumph next year as changes to the selection criteria will make him ineligible for the Under-23s.

But he is setting his sights on one day competing for Great Britain at the Paralympics.

Prior to that he has the small matter of a Materials Science degree at Oxford University to finish in the coming year.

Eardley has completed three years of the four-year course and he said: "The GB senior side is certainly an aim.

"Obviously, there are a lot of very good players but hopefully when I have finished my degree I can put more practice in and, hopefully, reach that standard."

Eardley's progress, both sporting and academic, were briefly curtailed by a shoulder injury which left him out of action for around six months last year.

Surgery was required to remedy a dislocation, but he has come roaring back on the court, and will return to university in September.

He said: "The operation was a year ago. I had to take three or four months' rest. Then it was another three or four months before I was able to start playing again, and I am still recovering now.

"They say it is about 18 months before you are fully recovered but it makes me feel that I am getting back to my best."

Eardley had to overcome that significant obstacle to help claim the Celtic Cup but anyone who knows him will not be surprised by his successful comeback.

He has overcome far worse in his life, having been paralysed from the waist down after suffering a complication during a spinal operation aged just 14.

But Eardley rebounded quickly from that devastating blow.

He said: "After the initial operation there was someone there (in the hospital) that played wheelchair basketball that introduced me to the sport, and I took it up as soon as I got out of hospital."

Eardley, who is currently without a club, has since gone on to play for Wolverhampton Rhinos and Stoke Mandeville Aces and is currently training five days a week to develop his game.

Few would bet against him adding to his already impressive achievements on the basketball court in the future.

But should that not work out Eardley, who briefly has also played wheelchair rugby for Wales, may have another sporting avenue to pursue. He also plays wheelchair tennis at the Shrewsbury Club.