Burnley football freestyler to showcase talent in America

3:00pm Thursday 22nd March 2012 in Burnley

ON THE BALL Chris shows his soccer skills ON THE BALL Chris shows his soccer skills

A FOOTBALL freestyler from Burnley is set to cross the Atlantic to give America a taste of his tricks.

Chris Draper, 19, will perform at half-time during two Fort Lauderdale Strikers games in May and June.

The Miami side play at the 20,450 capacity Lockhart Stadium and public relations student Chris is keen to thrill the crowds.

The former Burnley College pupil, now in his second year at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, has been honing his skills for the past year, but performed in front of his first audience in January.

He said: “I’ve done my routine at Preston North End, Dunfermline Athletic, Huddersfield Town and at Burnley College and UCLan.

“I think the main thing about going to America will be performing in the heat. I’m so used to the cold and rain!”

Chris’ next gig is at Saint Johnstone’s home game against Heart of Midlothian on March 24.

Then he will be jetting to the United States for a family holiday with a difference. Fort Lauderdale take on Atlanta Silverbacks in the North America Soccer League on May 26.

But it’s the ‘Florida derby’ against state rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies on June 2 that will be the toughest test of Chris’ skills.

He discovered his talent by accident, after meeting Scottish freestyler Graeme Lightbody while doing PR work for Dunfermline Athletic: “I could do a lot of the same tricks as him. Then I went to Manchester and met World Champion John Farnworth and I started learning more and more."

An avid Burnley FC fan, Chris says performing at Turf Moor would be the highlight of his career.

Comments (6)

7:43am Fri 23 Mar 12

Darwenred68 says...

Perform at Ewood instead it's a lot nicer stadium and you get larger attendances! More atmosphere on the moon than at turf moor! 12000 or 25000 it's a no brainer
Perform at Ewood instead it's a lot nicer stadium and you get larger attendances! More atmosphere on the moon than at turf moor! 12000 or 25000 it's a no brainer Darwenred68

9:20am Fri 23 Mar 12

s_smith says...

If he played at Ewood Park, it would be the first time in a long time that any one in that place has actually done anything good with a football...
If he played at Ewood Park, it would be the first time in a long time that any one in that place has actually done anything good with a football... s_smith

10:03am Fri 23 Mar 12

did you smash it? says...

Also - 25000, are you having a laugh?
Also - 25000, are you having a laugh? did you smash it?

12:55pm Fri 23 Mar 12

cdraper92 says...

I would be more than happy to perform at Ewood if Blackburn were to get in contact, I enjoy performing everywhere and anywhere, hope everyone will check my website out and youtube videos, cdraper92.moonfruit.
com
I would be more than happy to perform at Ewood if Blackburn were to get in contact, I enjoy performing everywhere and anywhere, hope everyone will check my website out and youtube videos, cdraper92.moonfruit. com cdraper92

1:19pm Fri 23 Mar 12

did you smash it? says...

Come on Chris - don't sell out to those chicken farmers - you don't need them!
.
:-)
.
Goof luck anyway bud and hope you get to perform on the Turf one day
Come on Chris - don't sell out to those chicken farmers - you don't need them! . :-) . Goof luck anyway bud and hope you get to perform on the Turf one day did you smash it?

2:08pm Fri 23 Mar 12

cdraper92 says...

Its not selling out mate, its wanting to perform everywhere, obviously it is my dream to perform on Turf Moor but having good banter and having support from both Burnley and Blackburn fans would be fantastic as I could represent my home town all over the world then, thanks for the support though, means a lot to me, feel free to contact me through my website anytime always will get back to people
Its not selling out mate, its wanting to perform everywhere, obviously it is my dream to perform on Turf Moor but having good banter and having support from both Burnley and Blackburn fans would be fantastic as I could represent my home town all over the world then, thanks for the support though, means a lot to me, feel free to contact me through my website anytime always will get back to people cdraper92

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