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Record Breaker

13-year-old Christopher Atherton breaks Eamonn Collins' record as youngest senior footballer

The teenager provided an assist with his first touch for Glenavon last night.

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. 

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.

Originally published at 10.54

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