A WYLAM powerchair footballer has signed for his boyhood club.

Sam Smith joins Newcastle United Foundation’s Powerchair Football Club from the Percy Hedley Foundation’s Northern Thunder.

The 23-year-old will wear the number 9 jersey made famous by footballing great Alan Shearer.

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European champion Smith debuted for England in 2017 at the FIPFA World Cup in America against Ireland and later represented his country at the EPFA European Championships in Finland as part of the England Para Lions squad.

Sam, who has the muscle-wasting disease muscular dystrophy, was also a FA Disability Cup winner earlier this year in only the second-ever televised powerchair football match.

The Newcastle University journalism graduate has played powerchair football for over 10 years having been introduced to the sport by dad Danny Smith, a former Ponteland High School teacher.

Smith, who attended Prudhoe Community High School, will play for Newcastle next season.

Former Thunder teammate Edward Common, of Hexhamshire, has also represented England.