MAIDSTONE-born footballer Steve Ward was given one of the biggest honours of his career this week when he was chosen to captain the England National Game XI in their match with the Belgian Under-20 squad in Oostend.

The team, previously known as the England semi-pro XI, is usually picked from the best players in the country outside the football league, but a row between the FA and the Conference forced manager Paul Fairclough to choose from players from the feeder leagues.

Ward, who plays for Ryman Premier League Canvey Island, said he was totally shocked when Fairclough told he would be wearing the arm band: “I had no idea at all until %pm at the team meeting.

"I was shocked enough at being picked but when I looked around at the other players it was quite a young squad and I was one of three of us in out thirties.”

England lost the game 3-1, but did well to keep the score down given the quality of players they faced.

Ward now lives in Lordswood and teaches at St Johns school in Gravesend, but he is originally from Vinters Park, Maidstone. He first played football for Ditton Minors and has also turned out for MPE and the Rose.