By Hayley Robinson

His first team debut for Scunthorpe United was a dream come true for former Sittingbourne student Matthew Godden: he came on to face the stars of Manchester United.

The former Fulston Manor School pupil made his first team debut on Wednesday, September.

Although his team crashed out of the Carling Cup competition, losing 5-2, Matthew said it was a night he would never forget.

"It really was a dream come true and now I've had my debut I hope I get the opportunity to come on in a few more games," he said.

The 19-year-old has another memento from the match: he swapped shirts with Manchester United's right back Rafael.

"I was quite chuffed with that. I'll probably frame it and hang it on the wall - something to remind me of my debut," he said.

Matthew was offered an apprenticeship with Scunthorpe United when he was just 15 and signed a professional contract with the team just before his 18th birthday in July last year.

The striker said: "I've been playing football since I was four, it's what I've always wanted to be - I would have found it hard if I hadn't been signed by Scunthorpe."

But he would never have made it as a professional footballer if it hadn't been for the support of mum Teresa Armstrong and dad Alan Godden, who are separated but both live in Faversham.

Matthew, who supports Arsenal, said: "Mum and dad both paid a lot of money for me to go on all those tours so I'm grateful to them.

"My dad would have liked to have come and watched me play against Manchester United but it's a four-hour drive. I know he was watching the game at home and my mum was watching it at my aunt and uncle's house.

"I just want to make sure I get in Scunthorpe's first team then move on to bigger and better things and play for bigger clubs, maybe even one day play for Arsenal."