A FOOTBALLING youngster who regularly finds himself on the sidelines for wearing glasses will soon be unstoppable on the pitch thanks to an optician.

Durham City Blacks player, Jamie Clifford, 11, frequently finds himself travelling to fixtures only to be told he must play without his glasses or leave the pitch.

Despite having the backing of his football club and manager, referees often take the decision that his glasses are a health and safety risk. Jamie usually has to go home as he can barely see without them.

In his latest setback he was stopped from playing in a Durham City Blacks Under-12s in a match in Sunderland after parents complained.

His mother Marie, from Esh Winning, near Durham said: "He was playing really well. There was nothing said until he took off with the ball. Then some parents complained to the referee. The referee blew his whistle and Jamie was told he had to take his glasses off or leave the pitch. It was heart wrenching to see his face."

But after reading about Jamie's initial plight, Boots Opticians in Durham contacted Mrs Clifford, offering to fit him with specially-made contact lenses and knocking the cost from £250 to £100.

Jamie has had several attempts at the opticians at using the contact lenses. But spurred on by the thought of playing football, he finally managed it.

Elsie Stephen, branch manager of Boots Opticians in Durham, said: "One of the ladies here has spent an awful lot of time with Jamie and his mum, training him to take them in and out.

"We have a legal requirement not to let them take the lenses away until he can do that.

"It will be nice if he scores a goal."