ONE dale youngster is taking the footballing world by storm and is set to play his third game for a major club later this month, despite being only seven years old.
Keiron Robinson of Dale Road, Barnard Castle, only began playing football for Barnard Castle U7s team last season, but his skill was spotted almost immediately by a talent scout for Middlesbrough Football Club and he was signed up to their youth academy.
Since then, as well as playing for Barnard Castle, he has represented Middlesbrough Under 7s in two games – one at home to Blackburn and one away to Wigan.
His father, who is also Barnard Castle Under 7s football coach, Martin Robinson, said: “We’re really proud.
“We knew when he started kicking a ball at five years old, he was a star of the future. He’s always loved football and is always training. It’s unbelievable what he can do.
“He’s also had several other clubs chasing him including Newcastle and Sunderland.
“But he’s happy at Middlesbrough, they’re his favourite team.”
Football mad Keiron not only trains with Barnard Castle U7s each week, but he travels to Middlesbrough’s training ground at Rockcliffe Hall every Thursday for training.
Come September though this will increase to two training sessions with the Teesside-based club.
And the young player, who scored an impressive 60 league goals in his first season for Barnard Castle, has already gained his own nickname – ‘Ticer’, after the extremely skilled and fast, former Queen’s Park Ranger midfielder David Thomas.
Keiron, who says he wants to be a professional footballer, currently plays on the right wing but has been working on his skills to ensure he is as skillful with his left foot.
Like his footballing hero, Cristiano Ronaldo, he has the number seven shirt. Keiron is hoping all his training and practise will pay off in his next match with Middlesbrough, away to Manchester City on Tuesday, August 28.
