apologies if posted already!
25th April 2017
http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co..._eight_year_old_footballer_signs_for_Everton/
Milnthorpe eight-year-old footballer signs for Everton
AN eight-year-old Milnthorpe boy is on the path to becoming a professional footballer after signing his first contract with a Premier League club.
Harvey Billington, who has trained with and played for a number of academies despite his young age, was welcomed into Everton boss Ronald Koeman's office to put pen to paper on a two-year deal.
Proud parents Allan and Cathryn have watched their young son, who started out at local team Milnthorpe Juniors, go through a number of youth set ups, including Manchester United and Harvey's favourite team Liverpool, before he settled on Merseyside rivals Everton.
Allan said: "It's what a lot do, they go around the clubs until they find somewhere they prefer. He just loved it at Everton, he had a choice but he picked to sign there.
"He really gelled with the boys there, it's only a small group of about 10 whereas Liverpool was 24 and the coaching is so much better for him."
Harvey's dad added it had been a surreal experience for the family, who were invited to attend Everton's home match with Leicester City just a few days before the young midfielder signed his contract.
They met with star players such as Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley, before Harvey was paraded onto the Goodison Park pitch at half-time, where he was announced as a new signing on the big screen in front of nearly 40,000 spectators.
"We're just so proud of him," added Allan. "But we all just have to take in our stride as a family.
"He's only eight so we can't be thinking he's the next Wayne Rooney, we'll just take it slowly and see where it goes.
"He's happy and really enjoying himself and we're delighted. He's always just wanted to kick a ball around. Me and my wife were looking at pictures of when he was younger and he always has a football in them."
