A NEWPORT school has produced three professional footballers in the past three years.

And the latest former St Joseph's High School pupil and rising soccer star, Byron Anthony, made his debut for Cardiff City in their Carling Cup tie this week, where he scored.

The 20-year-old defender joined his team-mate and another former St Joseph's pupil, James Collins, for the Bluebirds' crunch match against Milton Keynes Dons.

And Collins' classmate, Michael Flynn, 22, is making waves at Wigan, currently top of the Champion-ship.

Steve Lord, PE teacher at St Joseph's, told the Argus he was proud of his former pupils' achievements.

He said: "It's certainly very unusual to have three successful footballers all coming from one school. I think we are lucky in that Newport has a very strong junior football scene which we must benefit from."

Mr Lord added he always believed his star pupils would go on to bigger and better things.

He said: "They all had a fantastic attitude toward sport and were extremely talented all-rounders. I would say that all three could have gone into professional rugby if they had wanted and James was also very good at cricket. They all lived for sport."

Earlier this month, Coll-ins even broke into the Wales squad, making his competitive debut for his country in the World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland.

Byron Anthony said of his former teacher: "Mr Lord was one of those teachers who always encouraged people who had a talent. He really helped me develop ."

Now Mr Lord is hoping others will follow in his footsteps.

He said: "They are all great examples for today's pupils, a credit to the department and the school."