13-YEAR-OLD Christopher Atherton has become the youngest ever senior footballer in the UK after coming on as a substitute in Glenavon’s Irish League Cup clash with Dollingstown last night.
The teenager has broken the record set by Dubliner Eamonn Collins who appeared for Blackpool aged 14 years and 323 days, in 1980.
Tonight, Glenavon Academy player Christopher Atherton made his first team debut against Dollingstown in the League Cup. At 1⃣3⃣ yrs and 3⃣2⃣9⃣ days old, he became the youngest player in the UK to play in a first-class match.
— Glenavon FC (@Glenavon_FC) September 13, 2022
Congratulations Christo!!👏🏼💙 pic.twitter.com/hypGdC5R7p
Atherton, at at 13 years and 329 days old, came on as a second-half substitute at Mourneview. His first touch was an assist for his side’s sixth goal in their 6-0 win.
Collins set the previous UK record in the quarter-final first-leg of the Anglo Scottish Cup against Kilmarnock at Bloomfield Road on 9 September, 1980.
The world record for the youngest professional player was set by 11-year-old Eric Godpower Marshall last year when he played for Liberian side Gar’ou against Haifa FC.
Congratulations to Christo Atherton, the youngest ever player to play senior football competitively in the UK, making his debut with Glenavon at age 13! Christo is a dedicated, committed young person. We wish him continued success as he develops his talents and footballing career pic.twitter.com/EX99s3jEWo
— St. Patrick's Academy (@AcademyDgn) September 14, 2022
Originally published at 10.54