Josh Wisson credits hometown club Sittingbourne for helping him earn an international call-up.

Brickies midfielder Wisson has been named in the England Schoolboys squad for their Centenary Shield campaign, which starts in March with an away game in Northern Ireland.

The 17-year-old also has matches against Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland to look forward to.

Wisson, a sixth-former in Maidstone, and his England team-mates fly to Spain next month for warm-weather training and a match against Valencia’s academy.

It’s another world from the rough and tumble of Ryman League Division 1 South but Wisson believes his experience with Nick Davis’ Sittingbourne team gave him an edge at final trials when he came up against a Royal Navy side.

He said: “It’s been a big step playing men’s football.

“Nick’s given me a lot of experience in the first team and where Ryman South is a physical league, it was one thing I had over a lot of boys at the trials.

“Where I’m used to men’s football I wasn’t scared of the physical side of playing the Royal Navy - I was confident I could outmuscle the big boys.”

Sittingbourne boss Davis said: “I’m delighted for Josh. He’s good at everything.

“He’s physically strong, puts himself about, is a good size, good in the air and he can tackle, pass and shoot.”

Read the full story in Wednesday's Sittingbourne News Extra