Christopher Atherton: Glenavon schoolboy becomes UK's youngest ever player

Christopher Atherton, a 13-year-old schoolboy from Northern Ireland, wrote his name into the history books on Tuesday evening when he became the youngest ever senior footballer in the United Kingdom.

Still only in Year 9 at school, Atherton smashed the previous record by almost a full year as he came on as a substitute for semi-professional outfit Glenavon in their 6-0 thrashing of Dollingstown in the Northern Irish League Cup.

Per BBC Sport, Atherton, aged just 13 years and 329 days, was given the call from the bench by Glenavon player-manager Gary Hamilton in the 75th minute – and wasted little time seizing his opportunity.

With his very first touch, Atherton provided the assist for Glenavon’s final goal of the evening, scored by midfielder Matthew Snoddy.

Prior to Atherton’s record-breaking cameo on Tuesday, Irishman Eamon Collins had held the record for 42 years.

Collins was aged 14 and 323 days when he represented Blackpool in an Anglo-Scottish Cup game against Kilmarnock on 9 September 1980, according to Balls.ie.

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That appearance would be Collins’ sole outing in a Blackpool shirt. He did, however, go on to have a decent career in the lower reaches of the English footballing pyramid, representing the likes of Colchester and Exeter.

There’s a strong belief at Glenavon that their prodigy can make a far bigger impact in the game.

Naturally, much of the post-match discussion revolved around Atherton’s piece of history, with Glenavon boss Hamilton spending the first three minutes of his interview for Glenavon’s YouTube channel singing the youngster’s praises.

“He’s a great kid. I’ve had the pleasure of watching him for the last seven or eight