James O’Halloran excused himself from class to find out if he had made the England Schoolboys squad.

Winger O’Halloran, who plays for Maidstone under-18s in the Ryman Youth League, received a text from his brother to tell him a letter had arrived from the English Schools FA.

The 16-year-old left his double-sociology lesson at Wrotham School for the moment of truth.

He said: “I went to the toilets to ring my brother and I asked him to open the letter. I didn’t want to wait until I got home.

“I was shouting ‘oh my God’ down the phone when he told me I was in, then he drove down and gave me the letter.”

O’Halloran went through a series of trials to earn his place in the squad for England’s Centenary Shield campaign. They play away games against Northern Ireland and Wales in March, followed by Scotland and the Republic of Ireland at home in April.

He beat off competition from a rival left-winger to clinch his place, helped by two goals in the final trial match.

O’Halloran wants to turn professional but the Pro Soccer scholar is staying grounded.

He said: “This seems such a great opportunity for me but I just need to take it as it comes."

O’Halloran joined Maidstone from Bearsted and played so well in the under-16s last season he was invited to train with the first team.

He said: “It was a privilege to train with the first team and it did me a lot of good learning the difference between boys’ football and men’s football.”