A YOUNG footballing prodigy put his talents to use when he launched a bid to beat his best 'keepy uppy' record for charity.

Eight-year-old Kenny Taylor, of Bridge Street, Padiham, was spurred on by an elite cheerleading squad as his favourite Claret players watched his bid to reach 5,588 kicks at Burnley's Gawthorpe training ground yesterday.

And the Padiham Primary School pupil, raising money for Chorley's Derian House children's hospice, received a personal message from England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who sent the note: "To Kenny, good luck with the kick-up project."

But it was his favourite striker, Clarets star Gareth Taylor, who kicked Kenny off. The Wales international counted the first 500 touches before he had to train, leaving Kenny to perform 70 minutes of superb ball control before he finally let the ball hit the ground on 5,355.

Gareth said: "That's brilliant. The best I've ever done is 500." Clarets players Dean West, Glen Little and Tony Grant also applauded the feat as Kenny performed, using both feet and knees, in front of television cameras. And Kenny, who hopes to play for Burnley in the future, even amazed Clarets boss Stan Ternent.

Kenny, who trains at Burnley's centre of excellence with the under-eights, started 'keepy uppy' just last year. The young phenomenon is too young to play for his school at the moment but in a recent match for Burnley against Bury he was through on goal before bounced the ball four times and finding the empty net.

"My coach wasn't too pleased," he said with a cheeky grin.

Mum Alyson, who kept count after Gareth, said: "He loves doing it and practises four times a day, non-stop."