An Ashford United youth-team player was part of England’s successful bid to co-host the European Championships – meeting Gareth Bale.

Callum Pollard, who plays for the Nuts & Bolts’ under-13 Kent Youth League side, was in Switzerland on Tuesday for the ceremony confirming the UK and Ireland as joint-hosts of Euro 28.

Pollard was on stage with former Real Madrid and Wales superstar Bale for the announcement after being selected as England’s youth ambassador for the event.

He was picked in recognition of his work as an assistant coach to Ashford’s disability teams, where he helps head coach Dan Ambler on training and match days.

Ambler took a call from the Kent FA informing him the youngster had been shortlisted for the role and asking for a reference.

The county then got in touch with Pollard’s mum, Laura, as the family learned the good news.

“On 20 September, the Kent FA emailed me asking if my details could be passed on to the FA but couldn’t tell me why,” said Laura. “I said, yes, they could.

“The FA contacted me less than an hour later saying Callum had been selected to be England’s youth ambassador for the Euro 28 bid announcement ceremony in Switzerland.”

The UK and Ireland won the bid unopposed after Turkey pulled out of the running.

Six of the 10 stadiums are in England - Wembley, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, the new Everton Stadium (currently under construction), St James’ Park and Villa Park.

The Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Hampden Park in Glasgow and a rebuilt Casement Park in Belfast complete the line-up.