ASPIRING teenage Romsey soccer ref Kurtis Robinson, 15, got an opportunity every soccer official in the country would normally only dream of - by refereeing a match at Wembley Stadium.

Kurtis, a pupil at Mountbatten School, was helping his father John Robinson's firm, Harrod UK, set up the goals for the FA/McDonald's National Under-11s mini soccer festival.

"We set up ten pitches at a park five minutes from Wembley and then did four more on the hallowed turf itself," he beamed.

"When I was helping to erect the goal frames, the FA's tournament director got to hear that I refereed junior matches in the Eastleigh district and asked if I'd like to handle one of the matches in the Stadium."

Kurtis didn't need asking twice, quickly donning his referee's uniform to take charge of one of the under-11 festival games.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it and, needless to say, I'd love to do it again when I get a bit older and more experienced," he enthused.

Kurtis, whose father John plays Premier League cricket locally for Paultons, even got to walk the 107 steps up to the Royal Box to collect his FA medal!

Plenty more sport in this week's Romsey Advertiser.