The Welsh talent scout who started the Theo ball rolling

How England's unlikely lad twice slipped through Chelsea's hands along the road to fame

Elias rejoices in an impressive title: head of recruitment for the Southampton FC Youth Academy. He is rejoicing, too, at one of the most spectacular success stories among his genre. No wonder basic beliefs and loyalties have been shaken to the extent that the 52-year-old from Swansea admits, with a shake of the head: "I am not by nature an England supporter because I am a Welshman, but I have to say they have discovered new fans in myself and my two sons."

That conversion had its beginning on April Fools' Day in Millennium Year, when Elias joined Southampton after similar stints with Oxford United and Swansea. His first mission, after a phone call or two to old contacts, was to return to his old Oxford patch to watch a schools tournament in Newbury, where he first laid eyes on Theo, just turned 11, playing for Newbury Schools. "His pace, goodness me," said Elias. "I just followed his team around and ignored the rest."

Words rapidly exchanged with the teacher in charge established that the lad had signed with Swindon but the contract was due to end that month. Thus began one of those balancing acts, a specialty of talent spotters, to win Walcott's family over to a new cause and another club. "I asked Theo's father, Don, if he was prepared to speak to me and fortunately he was," explained Elias. "I said when the opportunity arose I would like him to come to Southampton and have a look at our set-up. Don said they would love to, but when I rang back to fix a date he told me Chelsea had invited his son to Stamford Bridge.

"The first Saturday in May he went there and Chelsea made him ball boy for the match against Liverpool, Theo's favourite team. Then they came to The Dell [Southampton's former ground] and I showed Theo round. I took him to the club lodge where, if he was good enough at 16, he would come full-time with the rest of the boys and said to the family 'Give me a ring when you have made your mind up'.

"Don rang me 24 hours later and said he had left the decision to Theo and went on, 'I am absolutely delighted he has decided to come to Southampton. The main reason was the time you spent with us, you made us feel part of the club, whereas Chelsea thought making him ball boy was enough'.

"Theo was a breath of fresh air from the word go, always had a smile on his face, always looked you in the eye, and every time he got the ball you just sensed something was going to happen. He just had the appetite and the ability. When I saw him first of all he was raw potential, a free spirit. I always say to his dad I hope nobody knocks that free spirit out of him because that is something nobody can give you.

"Playing for his club team in Newbury he scored over 100 goals in 35 games. We thought Southampton would be a culture shock, but he just couldn't stop scoring here, either. Within 12 months we moved him up an age group but he kept on running past people, kept on scoring. At 14 he made his debut in our FA Youth Cup side with 15 minutes to go. The first time he touched the ball he went past three people as if they weren't there. He had the self-belief to do that to boys who were four years older. It was just natural."

Walcott made his first-team debut, at the club record age of 16 years 143 days, in August last year and two months later scored his first goal (an overhead flick and volley) at Leeds. The inevitable process was in motion, and in January this year Walcott joined Arsenal for £5 million, the first stage of a £12m deal. "We would all have preferred him to stay at Southampton another 18 months," said Elias, "but when big opportunities arise you have to make big decisions. Chelsea outbid them, a massive bid, but the family wished to go to Arsenal."

The nurturing process has been gentle since then. There have been bench stints but the club information sheet listing the 31 playing staff shows only Walcott with a row of noughts alongside his name in the matter of first-team appearances and goals. Asked why Walcott is talented enough to go to the World Cup but not to play for Arsenal just yet, Arsène Wenger pointed out: "I have Reyes and Van Persie, who are in the Spanish and Dutch national teams and have more experience than Walcott. I have Thierry Henry, I have Bergkamp. Towards the end of the season I was chasing points, we needed to win every game to overtake Tottenham. I didn't want to take a gamble because I couldn't afford it."

The Arsenal manager is convinced Walcott will be part of England's World Cup plans and will benefit from what he has learned in training with his new team mates. "Against teams like Paraguay and Trinidad he will be up against defenders who are less good than those he plays against in training here." One of those defenders, Kolo Touré, confessed with a giggle: "Theo gives me problems in training, he is really, really quick, the quickest in our team now. He is a fantastic lad, listens to the older players, works very hard. We expect great things from him."

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was not surprised by Walcott's elevation. "He is already a very good player for his age, quick like a rabbit, his selection doesn't come too early." And Freddie Ljungberg, who like Lehmann, could face Theo at the World Cup, compared him to Michael Owen - "really quick, can get behind defenders."

Nathan Dyer, Walcott's best friend from the youth lodge days at Southampton, insists Theo went to Arsenal because of Henry. "His favourite pastime was playing Pro Evolution football on his Playstation. He would always be Arsenal so he could play as Thierry Henry. He made up his mind to go after reading Thierry's autobiography and he has loved training with him every day and learning from him since moving."

That learning process is still being encouraged by Elias, who reglarly texts his former pupil with the simple message "Watch Henry - not only on the pitch but how he prepares for games". "Theo still rings me about things," said Elias. "In many ways he is still part of our academy. He pops into the lodge when he visits his girlfriend in Southampton. Every one of our FA Youth Cup ties, he was here." With loyalty like that, no wonder a Welshman like Malcolm Elias is prepared to wrap himself in the St George flag over the next few weeks.

The Mentors: The only prodigy in the village

Don Walcott (Father)

Related to West Indies cricket legend Sir Clyde, he sprinted for the RAF. Gas fitter from small village of Compton in Berkshire. He said Theo should join Arsenal, and told him of his England selection; they played World Cup Monopoly to celebrate. Theo says. "I've had a very normal, balanced life. I just like spending time with my girlfriend and my family."

Huw Jennings (Academy)

Coined phrase "circle of serenity" to describe stable background of protégé. Managed Southampton's academy from 1999 until this year, now heads youth development for Premier League. He says: "World Cups can launch players and if Sven is looking for an impact player to come off the bench and run at tiring defenders and change a game, Theo has the potential and the temperament to do that."

Colin Gordon (Agent)

Founded Key Sports Management with John Colquhoun in 1999 after playing as striker for 11 clubs. Clients include England manager-elect Steve McClaren. Mastermind of £5m transfer to Arsenal (rising to £12m depending on future achievements) after advising Walcott not to go to Chelsea.

Arsene Wenger (Manager)

Began watching Walcott at 14, "which shows the faith in me". Identified him as replacement for teenager's hero Thierry Henry who, like Walcott, began career as winger. Walcott says: "What Arsène Wenger has done with Cesc Fabregas, knowing when to play him, improving his game, you can tell what a genius he is."

Andrew Tong

The England 23: Sven's aces and his wildcard

Paul Robinson (Tottenham)

David James (Manchester City)

Robert Green (Norwich City)

Gary Neville (Manchester Utd)

Rio Ferdinand (Manchester Utd)

John Terry (Chelsea)

Ashley Cole (Arsenal)

Sol Campbell (Arsenal)

Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)

Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)

David Beckham (Real Madrid)

Michael Carrick (Tottenham)

Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich)

Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham)

Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Joe Cole (Chelsea)

Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)

Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)

Michael Owen (Newcastle)

Peter Crouch (Liverpool)

Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

The Reserves

Scott Carson (Liverpool)

Luke Young (Charlton Athletic)

Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham Utd)

Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)

Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace)