2:15pm Sunday 21st March 2010
By Chris Hopper
A FOOTBALL-mad visually-impaired teenager is celebrating after being called up to the England squad.
Mathew Pounder, 17, is one of just 14 players from across the country in the national team development squad for blind and visually-impaired people.
And proud Mathew, of Todmorden Road, Burnley, hoped the call-up would mean he achieved the dream of representing his country in a competitive game.
The achievement comes after five years studying and playing football at Liverpool’s St Vincent’s School for blind children, where his talent has been nurtured.
There, playing for the Liverpool county team, midfielder Mathew was spotted by impressed FA scouts and invited down to successful trials at Lilleshall, Shropshire.
The FA, football’s governing body, is responsible for England’s partially sighted team, which competes in European Championships and a World Cup similar to the senior squad.
Mathew, a BTEC sport student, said: “When I got the letter through the door to say I’d made the squad, I was made up. I could not get over myself.
“I did not feel that I had performed that well at the trials and I was trying not to get my hopes up too much.
“But after I got the call-up, I was over the moon.”
Mathew, who was born with 30 per cent vision, is also preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Borneo, Indonesia, in August after being put forward by St Vincent’s.
The 28-day trip, run by charity Jolt, is for disabled and disadvantaged youngsters to give them a holiday and help them learn new skills.
Family and friends raised almost £300 towards the trip at a coffee morning held at St Andrew’s Church, Colne Road, on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Burnley and Liverpool fan Mathew will pass on his sporting expertise during coaching sessions with the Burnley Bears at the Spirit of Sport Centre, Ormerod Road, and as a young ambassador for the London 2012 Olympics.
Proud mum Jane Foulger, 36, said: “I am so happy for him. Playing football has completely changed his life for the better.”
Step-dad Andy, 46, added: “His years of hard work have paid off and it is nothing more than he deserves.”
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