SOCCER: A delighted Kesgrave teenager has been given the chance to train with the England cerebral palsy football team.Ben Hennon, who has the disability which affects the control of muscles, will be going to Nottingham to join the national team for training and an induction on Saturday.

SOCCER

A DELIGHTED Kesgrave teenager has been given the chance to train with the England cerebral palsy football team.

Ben Hennon, who has the disability which affects the control of muscles, will be going to Nottingham to join the national team for training and an induction on Saturday.

If the 19-year-old passes the test he could get his first international cap representing Ipswich in the team.

"I'm quite chuffed. It's something that I have wanted to do for a while, it's encouraging to me," said Ben, of Scopes Road, Kesgrave.

"It's a chance for me to go out and prove myself – that I can do it despite my disability."

Ben earned his chance to train with the national team after a scout saw him at his favourite club, Ipswich Town.

"I initially made contact through Ipswich Town because I was doing a bit of community project training.

"And then through that I was asked if they could send a scout in to watch me play.

"I have just received another phone call to say I'm going to train with them so that I could get an idea about what it is all about and to see if I'm good enough to get in to the team," Ben said of his chance to train with the England squad.

Ben, who has a younger brother, older sister and lives with his parents, said he was looking forward to his first training session as he was excited about the unknown and the type of experience he could gather from the day.

However Ben is not worried about how his cerebral palsy will effect his talent.

"I'm not an able bodied person and I tire a lot easier than an able bodied person, but it's more down to attitude – if you want to do something then you can."

Although Ben can drive and has his own Peugeot 106 he is looking for help in travelling to Nottingham.

"I'm really looking for some sort of hire car and petrol costs to get to Nottingham.

"If I had to travel for a few hours in the little car it will not help me being all cramped up and then playing football."

If you can help Ben get to Nottingham for his first chance at training with the national squad contact him on 07732 879902.