Football-mad youngster Gary Litvinov is dreaming of following in the footsteps of David Beckham after kicking a string of serious illnesses into touch.

The nine-year-old from Shipley, born with a tumour and left deaf in one ear after contracting meningitis as a toddler, has won a place in Manchester United Soccer School's annual skills final.

Gary, a pupil at Saltaire Primary School, clinched his place after taking part in a coaching course run by United in Bradford last autumn. Now the Leeds United fan, who plays for Queensbury Celtic's under-10s, will join 450 other youngsters from throughout the country to test their skills in exercises tried by United's youth team players. And their efforts will be judged against the 'perfect scores' achieved by stars such as Beckham - who got his big break at Old Trafford after winning a similar contest as a youngster - Ryan Giggs, Andy Cole, Roy Keane and Dwight Yorke.

As part of the prize for reaching the final, Gary will be watching Man Utd's home match against Liverpool on March 4 before the contest gets under way, with the eventual winner getting a trophy and free place on one of the club's residential soccer schools this summer.

Gary's mum Gillian, 32, of Norwood Avenue, said: "There were so many times when he was younger when we thought we were going to lose him.

"We can't believe he's done so well. Because of all his illnesses this is something we never thought he'd be doing.

"He was born almost two months premature and had a tumour on his head which had to be removed when he was five months old.

"He was very ill with Cryptosporidium when he was 14 months and then got meningitis in the same week. He was in a coma for a week and it was touch and go whether he'd pull through. But he did, although it left him deaf in one ear. He's also been hospitalised with asthma attacks and ear infections and has had a skin condition, but seems to have grown out of them now. Apart from the problems with his ear, he is just like any other nine-year-old.

"What he's achieved just goes to show what you can do, no matter what happens. Hopefully it will be an inspiration to others. His ambition is to play for Leeds - and if he did it would be his dream come true.''

Gary, whose ball-juggling record is 132 kicks, said: "I'm really looking forward to it and will be trying to win. I want to be a footballer one day and would love to play for Leeds.''

Dr Stephen Urwin, of Windhill Green Medical Centre where Gary is a patient, said: "Gary was extremely poorly as a younger child so we're very pleased indeed he's doing so well.''

David Rouse, project manager with the Manchester United Soccer School, said the finalists had been picked from more than 15,000 youngsters. He said: "After what Gary's been through it just shows he's got a lot of determination and the right spirit. And if we did spot a superb talent in the competition, we'd be stupid to ignore it."

Jean Revitt, headteacher at Saltaire Primary, said: "We're very proud of what he's achieved. Football's something he's very passionate about and we hope he goes on to fulfil his ambitions of playing for a top-flight club.

"It shows what you can achieve, no matter what.''

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