Dale Whitham

By Matt Lawton
February 17 2010

Leigh Genesis starlet Dale Whitham has been rewarded for his impressive form this season with a call-up to the ESFA England Under 18's squad, a historic breeding ground for top-class footballers both past and present.

17 year old Dale, a sixth form pupil in Ashton on Mersey, has scored three goals in twenty eight appearances for Genesis this season and will face Spanish-based games against Gibraltar and Malaga over the next week with a view to facing Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland in a tournament at the end of April.

Whitham's international call meant that he missed Saturday's 2-0 win over Clitheroe along with the midweek meeting with Rossendale United but will boost a growing footballing CV that now includes forty six senior appearances, a terrific achievement for someone that doesn't celebrate their eighteenth birthday until later this month.

Leigh Genesis would like to extend their congratulations to Dale on his international honours, a mark of the club's dedication to developing young players and giving them a chance in the sport.