home / News & events / News / Budding Footballer Is Called Up To England Senior CP Squad
Budding Footballer Is Called Up To England Senior CP Squad
A budding footballer from Derby Grammar School is celebrating after becoming one of the youngest players to be called up to the England Senior Cerebral Palsy Squad.
Sixth former Freddie Lamb is a goalkeeper and helped the England Under-21 Cerebral Palsy team win a Gold medal at the IFCPF European Para Youth Games in Italy in 2017.
Freddie's cerebral palsy can affect his balance and he has moderate to severe hearing difficulties after being born at 24 weeks.
The 17-year-old has always dreamt of being selected for the England Senior Cerebral Palsy Squad but didn't anticipate being called up so soon.
So he was shocked and thrilled to find out he was in the Senior Squad and has already attended one training camp with two more to come.
He said: "I was surprised and shocked to get the call-up; I'm one of the youngest players to be called up. I have already been to a training camp at St George's Park. We did four training sessions and talked through tactics. It is a massive step up, just the pace of it. It's a really high level."
He will also attend a three-day training camp in April at Lilleshall and an eight-day training camp in May when he will be in the squad for a tournament.
He said: "It's exciting but I've also got my A-levels coming up so we'll see what happens. The IFCPF World Cup is in Spain this summer so it would be great to make the squad for that. I know the second choice keeper can't make it and I have the right classification, I just need the experience."
Freddie is studying Maths, Geography and Chemistry at Derby Grammar School's Sixth Form and is hoping to go to university to study Sports Science and Coaching.
Last year, the talented teenager won the Derbyshire Schools Sport and Physical Activity Award in the Individual Achievement – Inclusive category and he was also chosen to take part in the Talented Athletes Scholars Scheme at Nottingham Trent University.
Freddie started playing football for Melbourne United when he was aged around five before moving on to the Derby County Community Trust Player Development Centre – which provides a higher level coaching opportunity for players that show signs of talent in grassroots club or school settings. He was then selected to join a centre of excellence for cerebral palsy players across the East Midlands.