A year to remember for talented sportsman Matt
SPORTS mad Matt Robinson, from Heamoor, has capped a memorable year by becoming the first Cornish footballer to play at the Football Association's new state-of-the-art national football centre, St George's Park.
The 14-year-old has excelled in a number of sports in 2012, winning the Cornwall Schools County Cricket Shield with Humphry Davy School, being named as the school's Sports Achievement Award winner and gaining his Blue belt at Karate.
And it hasn't stopped there for the young Penzance sports star, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy.
On the football field he has won the league and cup double with Plymouth Argyle's U16s disability squad, winning a runners-up medal with the South West CP Centre of Excellence football squad in the FA's CP National Cup Tournament at Lilleshall's National Sports Centre.
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He was also crowned as this year's Pirate FM's 'Local Heroes' Sports Achievement Award winner..
And just when this very talented sportsman, who also trains with Penzance Amateur Boxing Club and helps out local football coach Maurice Holland at Penzance Soccer Stars during his school holidays, thought that his year couldn't get any better, it did.
Selected
Not only did the teenager become the first Cornish footballer to play at the FA's brand new multimillion pound football centre at St George's Park in Burton upon Trent, but he was invited there again just a week later after being selected by England CP coaches as one of the country's emerging talents.
The England Emerging Talent Camp is a new feature of the FA's Player Pathway programme that not only gives the players the experience of using some of the best sports facilities in Europe and the privilege of being trained by some of the best coaches in the country, but it also gives the coaches the opportunity to closely monitor and develop the next generation of England and GB CP footballers.
The England CP setup has been in place for many years now but Matt, who celebrates his 15th birthday next week is the only player from Cornwall to go this far.
Matt's parents feel this is partly down to the amount of travelling, cost and commitment that's required from both the players and parents.
Matt trains at the South West Centre of Excellence, based in Taunton, almost every Saturday morning which is around a 260 mile round trip.
He also plays six fixtures for the centre which take place at St Georges Park and the National Sports Centre at Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Each fixture requires almost a 700 mile round trip travelling up and back to Penzance.
Helped
Matt was very kindly awarded a grant last season by the Lord Lieutenant's Fund for Youth which helped immensely towards some of the accommodation and travelling costs.
This year Matt is looking for sponsorship/funding to help with his costs as he continues in his quest to wear the 'Three Lions' shirt and one day play football for England and GB.
If you think you can help with sponsorship or funding in anyway, please either contact 01736 367650 or email asbx64@dsl.pipex.com
Comments
by StevenSeagull
Sunday, November 18 2012, 10:50AM
“Congratulations to Gemma, fantastic achievement but since I first read about Matt last year, I have been fortunate enough to meet him and his wonderful family which for me means I now take an interest and follow his amazing achievements.
Matt played for the South West of England CP in a national fixture at St Georges Park in October.
So unless I'm mistaken, although Gemma was the first to train there, Matt was the first to play a fixture there making him the first Cornish footballer to actually play at St Georges Park.
Congratulations to both players, doing Cornwall proud.”
by Cavey12
Thursday, November 15 2012, 3:26PM
“Congratulations to Matt and to not to be a killjoy of this celebration, but can I say my good friend Gemma Sanders who also plays football and she have been selected to play for England Deaf Football and Great Britain Deaf Football since 2008. She went to train for England back in September 2012 which makes Ms Sanders the first Cornish footballer to train and play at St George's park before the official opening of the National centre.”