A RISING young goalkeeper has earned a call-up for England Schoolboys and broken a 45-year drought for the region.

Ashton Powney, 17, is the first South Yorkshire County Schools FA youngster to be involved in an England Under 18 squad since way back in 1981.

The England Schools’ FA is for youngsters still in full-time education but not on a scholarship with a professional club.

Ashton, from Bolton-upon-Dearne, is currently playing with Doncaster City FC in the Northern Counties East Division One league.

When he’s not handling crosses, he is learning the trade of a barber on a course at Barnsley College.

His proud father John said: “I am over the moon to be honest.

“The hard work he has put in has paid dividends.

“Playing in the men’s league at a young age has absolutely brought him on.

“He was the youngest in the school year and had he been born three days later then he would have been in the year below.

“It is his aspiration to become a professional footballer.

“Clubs are already calling up about him and he’s trained with Airdrie up in Scotland.”

It was an arduous process to get into the England set-up.

Ashton has had to prove he was the best in the region, then the north and then see off competition from around the country at a training camp in Telford.

John added: “He was up against eight goalkeepers at Telford and only one was chosen.That was Ashton.

“I was refreshing my emails all day and then saw it on social media.It’s great for us and him.”

Ashton’s goalkeeping talents were first noted back in 2019 when he won the historic Totty Cup for his school Lacewood.

He has always admired former Manchester United and Spain stopper David de Gea.

His development has continued since then and this call-up is a crowning glory for him.

He and teammates from around the country will take on Wales next month in a game at Cirencester.