A Shotley peninsula footballer has taken another step nearer to wearing the Three Lions on his short after successfully making the cut after an England Under 18s trial match.

Oliver Hart, who lives in Shotley, has been selected for the South East squad to take on the south-west in November.

The ESFA hosted the first England U18 Schoolboys' Pro:Direct Trial on Sunday at Leyton Orient's training ground in Chigwell, Essex, with Oliver playing well at centre-half.

If Oliver, who plays for AFC Sudbury Reserves after coming through their Academy development system, does well once again he could be picked to play against the best of the northern squads, and a final England Under 18s team will be selected from that game.

Oliver Hart playing in England trial match (Picture contributed)

Oliver started out playing for Shotley Rangers, and is the son of chairman Dan hart, a renowned former non-league player and currently a coach at Brantham Athletic.