BUDDING squash starlet Michael Mattimore has become the first Northern junior player to reach the dizzy heights of the England team.
The 12-year-old from Brunton Park, Gosforth, lives just a few minutes' walk from the squash club which has been his second home in recent years.
And that single-minded dedication has seen the Gosforth East Middle School pupil come on leaps and bounds.
Michael has had a super season on court, having climbed to No 6 in the national Under 13 rankings - and having seen off the England No 4 and a Malaysian international in a season which has already brought FOUR tournament wins, including two at Silver level, for the most talented players in the northern region..
He also finished 11th in the British Junior Open back in October and then an impressive third in the English Junior Closed in March.
But the coup de grace was that recent England call-up, with Michael selected for the Five Nations tournament in Cardiff on April 20th - where he came away with a 100 per cent win record after locking horns with the cream of U13 talent from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France.
"Michael is a super player with loads of passion for the game," said Northern junior coach Richard Vitty. "If he keeps working the way he has, then he has a great future in the game, and it's great for everyone at our club to see one of the junior prospects playing for his country - we're very proud of him."
