BOLTON wrestling talent George Ramm cannot wait for the Commonwealth Games arena to “erupt” with cheers from his friends and family when he goes for gold in Glasgow.

The former Turton High School pupil, who honed his skills at Sharples Wrestling Club, is counting on his vocal supporters to help power him to the kind of performance that secured a bronze at the recent English Seniors Championship.

“I will have a lot of support at the Games, as family and fellow club members have bought tickets,” said Ramm, the youngest member of the England wrestling squad, who will turn 18 during the games, the day after the climax of the wrestling competition.

“I expect an eruption from the crowd as I enter the arena to compete. “I am really excited about the Games and it is another step on a learning curve for me.

“My training camp went really well and I am feeling in great shape and I am ready to compete.

“It is all starting to sink in now.”

Ramm started on his road to Glasgow aged just four, as a promising young judo player.

He was trained in those early days by dad Jason, but aged 11 caught the wrestling bug after seeing a demonsration at his school. Since then he has not looked back. Ramm joined up with Sharples coach Eddie Kavanagh and, in his first year of competition, won the British Novice Championships, Welsh Junior Open and Tryst Junior Championships.

He followed up that medal haul with the first of five English junior titles and in his third year was picked to join the Team GB talent squad.

The former Harwood Meadows Primary School pupil has enjoyed a similarly meteoric rise up the national senior rankings, taking bronze in his debut at the English Senior Championships.

Ramm is also no stranger to international events. He won silver at the Youth Olympics in Sydney and claimed bronze earlier this year at the FILA competition in Austria.

All thoughts now turn to the Commonwealth Games and Ramm’s opening bout in the 61k division next Wednesday.

Whatever the outcome, Ramm was eager to offer a word of thanks to those who have helped him get this far.

“I am really grateful to the people at Sharples who have helped coach and improve me over the years,” he said.

“I would also like to thank Love Energy Savings as my sponsor and Network Rail for helping sponsor Sharples.”