A THREE-time British cycle speedway champion is set to retire from the sport after being called up for Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the USA.

Astley and Tyldesley rider Adam Phillips has competed for the club since the age of four, but last year became an established member of Liverpool’s under 18s side as well as captaining England at under 16s level.

The 16-year-old has won three British individual cycle speedway titles and had set his sights on winning the under 16s British individual final next month as his swansong.

However, having leapfrogged the under 18s academy squad and made his first team debut, playing the entire second half as a substitute in Denmark against Brondby last week, Phillips has retired from the spot with immediate effect.

Phillips is currently in the USA as a first team squad member on Liverpool’s pre-season tour.

An A&T spokesperson said: “Everyone at A&T wishes Adam every success in his football career and thanks him for being such a pleasant, dedicated and successful club member since he was four-years-old.

“Adam's final appearance for A&T was in the home defeat to Northumbria on July 6, when he top scored with 19 points out of a possible 20.”