By Andy Gray

There's one lad who won’t be chewing his way through dry turkey sandwiches to soak up the eggnog spritzers this Boxing Day.

For 13-year-old Maidstone Grammar schoolboy Jarred Trespaderne (pictured) will be flying off to Florida for the Christmas trip of a lifetime.

Jarred, of Crownfields, Weavering, is one of 14 pupils across Kent chosen to represent the county in an international football competition.

The 11-day Sun Bowl tournament will involve teams from 22 countries battling it out in matches played in Tampa and Orlando.

It is fair to say Jarred, who plays for Bearsted under-13s in the Kent Youth League, will not be shedding a tear for
Brit-bound friends and family as he heads for the Sunshine State.

He said: "It’s the greatest achievement of my career so far. And it’s not a bad place to be spending Christmas."

Being selected to play in the USA was one thing but raising the £2,000 needed to get there was another.

Jarred secured sponsors and persuaded shoppers at Morrisons in Maidstone to part with a few hundred pounds during a two-day stint stood outside the supermarket with a collection bucket.