A TEENAGE footballer from Droylsden has two reasons to celebrate after netting a double of his own.
Sixteen-year-old Kyle McGonigle was already on top of the world after winning a two-year scholarship at Coca-Cola League Two club Bury.
However, that was followed by the news that he had been chosen for the Great Britain football team competing at this year’s FISEC Summer Games in Portugal.
They take place on the Algarve from July 17-23 and feature the best athletes aged 14-17 in Catholic schools from across the globe.
Kyle, who is a pupil at St Damian’s RC Science College, was chosen earlier this month after trials held at Liverpool FC’s Academy.
That capped a hectic month for the teenager, whose mum Kath had initially been more concerned with his school progress.
She explained: "He found out about his Bury scholarship on February 11, but that was also the night of his parents’ evening, which was worrying enough!
"However, he got a fantastic report from school which I was really chuffed about, so the news from Bury made it all the better.
"He’s been with them for a couple of years but he’s a very level-headed boy who never takes anything for granted. It had looked promising but you never know – although he was thrilled when he got the scholarship."
The scholarship officially starts on July 1, meaning Kyle – of Sunnyside Road – had to be given the Shakers’ permission to join up with the Great Britain squad for the FISEC competition.
They travel to Portimao for the football event, 12 months after Kyle had attempted to be chosen for the 2008 competition.
This year’s Games are the latest to be held since they took place for the first time in 1947.
Kath said: "He had trials for last year’s event in Malta, but he was pleased with this year’s trial because he scored and played well.
"They sent all the information to school, so the first I knew was when he came home and said ‘Guess who’s going to Portugal?’
"The problem was that his contract with Bury starts on July 1, so we had to talk with his manager Mike Sheron before he could go.
"Having said that though, Kyle is not like your normal 16-year-old in that he’s a lot more mature and never takes anything for granted.
"He’s not one to go mouthing off about anything he’s done and I’m really proud of him – in some ways, he’s like the little man of the house."
