A TALENTED young footballer is hoping his trip to Barcelona in the autumn will still go ahead.

Eight -year-old Matthew Barker is hoping the global crisis soon passes and he can resume his football career. The talented youngster who lives at Leyburn trains with both Borough Rangers and Leeds Development Centre which is also based in the northeast. The young man who is a right winger also competes in matches against other top sides.

This gruelling schedule sees him either training or playing up to six out of seven days usually accompanied by his dutiful father Jonathan.

With the present lock-down Matthew is still able to maintain his skills in their back garden. He is lucky he has a sister Isabella to train with who is also a talented player who represents Richmond Town Girls.

He has now been selected for a northeast touring side that is due to visit Barcelona is October which is subject to the travel restrictions being lifted.

Mr Barker comments:“Matthew is very hopeful the tour will go on and although he accepts the situation is as it is he is still training hard.”

Anyone or business who wishes to sponsor Matthew as a player or for the tour should contact Mr Barker by email: jonathanbarker48@gmail.com/.