THIS Saturday one teenager will be cheering on his Saintly heroes at Wembley, but Ryan Paladino has big sporting ambitions of his own.

The 15-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, is on target to become one of the best boccia players in the country with his big dream of pulling on a GB shirt in the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

Encouraged by the success of the competitors at the Beijing Olympics, Ryan, a pupil at Lansbury Bridge School, in Parr is the North West Boccia Champion. He has even competed successfully in the National Boccia Open Age Championships in Sheffield.

After taking on and beating a number of established Great Britain players, Ryan is now recognised as an outstanding talent and was invited to join the England training camps.

Ken Andrews, school sports co-ordinator at Lansbury Bridge, said: “Having impressed the team coaches and selectors at the training camps, he was invited to play in his first England international match at Robin Park, Wigan and although the youngest member of the team, he showed great confidence and was considered to be the best player, playing in all matches against Great Britain, Spain and Wales. Now an established member of the England team, Ryan looks forward to the series of training camps and future internationals next year.”

Ryan, who uses an electric wheelchair, has represented St Helens at Boccia at the Merseyside Youth Games for the last six years. A game for disabled athletes, it is similar to French boules or bowls.

Each week he travels to the Stockport Boccia Club for training sessions led by Nigel Baguley, former Boccia British Paralympian, and has been voted the most improved player in the Stockport Club for the last three years.

Ken added: “Ryan’s tremendous achievement in the international tournament, in which he has become one of the best players in England, has put him in the frame for further international honours hopefully in the Great Britain team and his dream to be at the 2012 Paralymic Games is certainly becoming ever more achievable.”