FOOTBALL starlet Joshua Hoggart has created a little bit of Danone Nations Cup history after being chosen to represent his country in the tournament for a second successive year.

Joshua and his team-mate, goalkeeper Joshua Hill, became the first England players - in the history of the seven year old competition - to wear the Three Lions' shirt for a second consecutive year after winning through their regional and national heats.

The talented 12-year-old footballer, who plays for Willington Boys Club, now jets off to France at the end of this month with a 14 man strong squad to pit his wits against 32 other nations in Lyon's Stade de Gerland in a bid to be crowned world champions.

Joshua progressed from the North- East's regional heat held at Gateshead International Stadium at the beginning of May from a pool of over 200 kids, before impressing scouts at the national trial held at Fulham Football Club four weeks later.

Proud mum Dawn says she is delighted her son has made the England squad again.

She said: "The North-East have done quite well this time and there are a couple more in the squad than last time.

"There is one from Newcastle, one from Sunderland and one from Carlisle.

"We go to London on June 27 and we fly to France from there.

"It has happened a lot quicker this time than the last time.

"Between the heats there was eight and ten weeks last year, but this time it has all happened within five or six weeks.

"Only Josh and the goalkeeper from last year made it through this time.

This is the first time this has ever happened in the competition."

Joshua has had to have time off from school to take part in the trials and his mum admitted that they were both grateful for the support they have received from her son's school, St Johns RC Comprehensive.

She added: "They have been fantastic in letting Josh have all of this time off to go to the trials."

The Reunion Islands won last year's competition whereas England finished 18th out of 32 teams.

It may seem a disappointing finish for the Three Lions side but as Joshua's mother explained, the standard of the tournament is extremely high.

She said: "It was a tough competition. They faced academy sides from the likes of Bayern Munich and teams that have played together for years; whereas our lads have only been together for a few weeks.

"So when you think about it that way England did quite well."

The Danone Nations Cup is specifically aimed at the ten to 12 year old age group and it is endorsed by FIFA, the French Football Federation, and supported by France and Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane, who is the International Ambassador.

Since the first tournament in 2000, the Danone Nations Cup has helped more than ten million kids live their dreams.

The international final gathers the winning teams from the 32 participating countries in a prestigious stadium, playing in front of 30,000 spectators.