The child became the youngest player in the history of the adult team in the UK.

The Irish kid entered British football history through a wide door after playing with his Glenavon team in the League Cup in Northern Ireland.

Christopher Atherton featured in the second half of Glenavon against fellow Dollingstown in the League Cup at the age of 13 years and 329 days.

Atherton thus became the youngest player to play for the first team in British football history.

And Glenafon FC’s official Twitter account posted a tweet congratulating the young player on this historic achievement.

“Glenavon Academy player Christopher Atherton made his first-team debut against Dollingstown in the League Cup tonight,” the club said in a statement.

He added: “At 13 years and 329 days old, he became the youngest player in the United Kingdom to play in a first team match. Congratulations Christo.”

Atherton did not draw attention to himself, as he was only a young player, but immediately contributed to one of his team’s goals after he made the decisive pass from which Glenavon scored the sixth and final goal.

Atherton broke the previous UK record held for 42 years, held by Eamonn Collins while wearing a Blackpool first team shirt.

Collins made his Blackpool debut on 9 September 1980 when he was 14 years and 323 days old.

There are several British clubs looking to sign Atherton, led by Scottish side Dundee United, according to the Daily Mail.

Source: “Agency”

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