A YOUNG man has been selected to represent his country and play for the England Cerebral Palsy Football team at the World Cup this summer.

Reegan McMillan, a shift manager at the Mayflower Retail Park McDonald’s in Basildon, is excited to be taking part as goalkeeper in the international competition with his teammates in Spain.

The England side will shortly be heading to the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) World Cup in Seville with the tournament starting on July 2, and will face teams including Brazil, Argentina, and the current world number one side, Ukraine.

The 20-year-old said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected to represent England at the IFCPF World Cup this year.

“It’s something I’ve always worked towards and it’s a real honour to play for my country.

“McDonald’s have been fantastic helping me fit work around my training and it’s great to have their support.”

Reegan started working for McDonald’s as a crew member at 16-years-old and has worked his way through to the position of shift manager over the last four years. He fits his work around his rigorous training schedule which has seen the goalkeeper be scouted first for England under 19s in his mid-teens and now the senior squad.

Former England Cerebral Palsy team Captain Jack Rutter said: “Over the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of coaching Reegan during the England CP training camps.

“It has been amazing to see the progress he has made both on and off the pitch and I’m thrilled that he has been picked for this summer’s tournament.

“He fully deserves to be wearing the Three Lions on his chest.

“Reegan is truly an inspirational young man and I wish him all the best out there.”

The England cerebral Palsy team are currently ranked seventh in the world by the IFCPF and will compete against 15 other teams in a bid to be crowned world champions.

Basildon franchisee Gen Isikgun, who owns and operates the Basildon restaurant, said: “It’s been amazing to follow Reegan’s journey and we’re all so proud of everything he has achieved. Here at McDonald’s, we’re thrilled to be able to offer Reegan the flexible hours he needs to allow him to train with the team each week. He has worked really hard to get to this level and we can’t wait to cheer him on at the World Cup!”

England has been drawn in Group A of the tournament and will have to come out on top against Germany, Japan and Brazil - ranked second in the world - to go through to the knockout stages of the tournament.