ENGLAND expects Morecambe schoolboy football sensation Ryan Elderton to do his best against Poland at Wembley this weekend.

The 15-year-old Morecambe High School pupil has just been picked to play for Lancashire. But when a letter arrived saying he has been chosen to be a ball boy at Saturday's big match it was a bolt from the blue.

Ryan (pictured) remembered: "I hadn't applied for it or anything like that. It just came through the door that I was to be at Wembley before the Poland game. I've just been for trials at the Lancashire FA and we had a big meeting and they said I've been picked. It turns out it was them who nominated me - but I didn't know anything about it. I was well made up."

Now Liverpool fan Ryan, currently on Preston North End's books, hopes to see or, whisper it, meet his football idol Michael Owen before the match.

Meanwhile for mum Mandy, keeping an eye out for Ryan on Saturday will be just one more football date to cram into her weekend. For Mandy spends every weekend watching Ryan, husband Gary who also runs Morecambe FC's under 15s side, Ryan's twin brother Scott who also plays for Morecambe FC's youth sides and other son Gary who plays for Lancaster City's under 18s.

Said Mandy: "They're all football mad and all me and Gary seem to do is work and football. I try to watch all my sons when I can and give them some support. Ryan's really an all round sportsman and he's just joined Morecambe golf club. We were all really surprised when we got the letter about being a ball boy - the only trouble is we've got to get Ryan to Leyland for the coach at seven O' Clock in the morning on Saturday."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.