Dream comes true for football fanatic

Joshua Jones, ten, suffers from the severe and debilitating Duchenne muscular dystrophy which affects the muscles near the trunk of the body, around the hips and the shoulders.

The condition starts in early childhood and affects one in 3,500 boys in the UK.

After a fall last year, Joshua lost the ability to walk and has since become dependant on his power-wheelchair to get around.

This has stopped him playing his favourite sport, football, which caused children’s charity Sports Connections Foundation to step in and give Joshua his sporting wish.

The West Park First School pupil was picked up by a chauffeur-driven limousine earlier today, and to Wembley Stadium for the England versus Denmark World Cup warm-up friendly.

He will lead out his sporting heroes in his wheelchair, in front of 90,000 cheering fans.

Gemma Jones, Joshua’s mother, said: “Joshua is a football fanatic.

This sporting wish will give him not only amazing memories but a chance to meet his heroes. It will make him very happy and hopefully will improve his confidence, he is so excited.”

Richard Philp, co-founder of Sports Connections Foundation, said: “Joshua is a delightful ten year old whose incredible bravery and courage should be an inspiration to all of us.

“For our charity to be able to grant him his sporting wish, is a real privilege for us.

“We aim to make this one of the best days of his life, and to give his family, school friends and carer’s an occasion they can cheer about.”

To read the full story don’t miss next week’s Worthing Herald.