Little Joshua Turpin thought he'd scored when a Make a Wish charity agreed to try and fix it for the seriously-ill tot to meet England captain David Beckham and be the team mascot.

But the three-year-old, who is the size of an 18-month-old and needs a heart and lung transplant, was heartbroken when football chiefs said no.

The bad news was broken to Joshua's mum Michelle Byrne by the Make A Wish Foundation who said they had tried their best.

The youngster suffered another disappointment this week when he got chicken pox and the family had to cancel a dream trip to Disneyland Resort, Paris, which was also being organised by the children's charity.

Michelle, 34, said: "It's another knock-back. We were so disappointed by the Football Association's answer. To wait for Joshua to get a bit older might not be possible. By rights doctors thought he wouldn't be here now. He could have another year or he could have ten, we really don't know.

"He can't play football but he absolutely adores watching it and worships Beckham.

"We're hoping somehow the England Team might get to hear about Joshua and get in touch with us. He can't fly anywhere so if he's going to be a mascot it's got to be a home game.

"The FA did offer us the chance to go along to an England training match but they couldn't guarantee Beckham would be there."

She added: "We couldn't believe it when Joshua came down with chicken pox just before going to Disneyland, it was another kick in the teeth, but it couldn't be helped. Make A Wish has been great and said they'll rearrange it, but it's still another big disappointment."

When Joshua was born he appeared to be perfectly healthy. But just hours afterwards, his parents were told the devastating news that he was disabled and had a life-threatening condition.

Doctors at Airedale Hospital discovered a main artery was missing between Joshua's heart and lungs. They also diagnosed a condition called Digeorge Syndrome made up of a thousand minor illnesses that affect his immune system - even a cold could kill him - so doctors have put him on antibiotics for his chicken pox and told his parents to keep a careful eye on him.

Two years ago he had a heart operation where surgeons patched up his damaged artery but he has to wait until he is seven before he can go on the national transplant waiting list.

His short life so far has been fraught with health and development problems but his mum says he is fighting his condition and is pleasing doctors when he goes for regular check-ups.

His speech is improving but he uses sign-language, and six months ago doctors removed a tube that was feeding him through his stomach but getting him to eat is still an uphill-struggle.

The family -- dad Stephen Turpin, brothers Sean, 6, Brian, 15, and sister Victoria, 16, are also coping with moving house from Keighley to Clayton where they have swapped a small backyard for a big garden where Joshua can play safely.

Michelle said: "That's about the best bit of good luck we've had at the moment. We've only been moved three weeks but Joshua is really loving it and he thinks his garden is brilliant."

A spokesman for Make A Wish said: "On this occasion the Football Association couldn't help us. They like mascots to be about six or seven. They are their rules and we have to accept them. As for Joshua's trip to Disneyland, as soon as he's feeling better we will get the holiday sorted for him. It's not the end of his wish."