Leon Brabbs-Hewitt used to sit at his back door and vomit before each match at Monkton Stadium because he was so worried about his upcoming game.

But the nine-year-old has overcome his shyness to become one of the area's star defenders.

The Ashley Road Primary School year 5 pupil – nicknamed the Bulldog for his tackling ability – plays for the South Shields Tigers in Division One of the Chase Holmes South Tyneside Youth League.

He's been named league and club player of the season, and now he trains with the Sunderland Academy under 10s development centre twice a week after being spotted by club scouts.

He's also been approached by Wallsend Boys Club, which once had Alan Shearer and Steve Bruce on its books.

Tigers manager Chris Smith said: "He's like a little bulldog. Not much gets past him, and when it does, it doesn't take long for him to get it back.

"He's ferocious but fair, and a lovely little lad who gets on well with everyone."

His mum Kelly Hewitt, 33, from Fox Avenue, Simonside, South Shields, said: "In just two years he's been transformed from a lad who was terrified before each game, to a confident footballer who's dedicated to the game.

"He's always been good at football, and he started playing matches a couple of years ago.

"He's a shy lad and he used to sit out at the back door and vomit every single Saturday because he was so nervous about the match ahead.

"It got to the point where we nearly had to stop him from playing because he was in such a state before the game.

"But that's all changed now, he's much more confident. It's showing in his football too, which is why things are going well for him at the moment."