A HARPENDEN footballer will captain the England team on Wembley's hallowed turf as a curtain raiser to the Charity Shield on Sunday.

Mr David Clarke, 29, from Bewdley Close, will achieve every footballer's dream and show off his skills under the twin towers before one of the season's biggest crowds.

What makes the feat even more remarkable is the fact David has been blind from birth.

Playing at Wembley in this historic year, before the stadium is torn down and rebuilt, is David's dream come true.

He said: 'I've been to the stadium a few times, but only as part of the crowd, which in itself is an amazing experience - I'm a big Wigan fan and went to the Challenge Cup Final, and I've been to two Charity Shields, but unfortunately my team, Liverpool, lost.

'Actually playing at Wembley is something every footballer dreams of, and I can't wait.'

The Charity Shield is sponsored by One 2 One, and David's England team will play a 25-minute five-a-side match, with players drawn from the England Blind Squad.

He said: 'We're playing in support of the One 2 One Ability Counts programme, which aims to increase the number of disabled footballers in this country.

'Some people are not aware of the chances they have to compete, and this is about trying to identify potential talents, trying to put in place local opportunities and finding people to take up these opportunities.'

'We play with four blind outfielders and a sighted goalkeeper, but sighted or not, all players, from the Premiership downwards, have to communicate with each other, and you'll hear us shouting as much as anyone else.

'The fans really get involved, which can sometimes make it a little difficult because we use a ball with lead shot inside so we can hear where it is, but our movement on the pitch is the usual combination of experience and spatial awareness.'

Mr Clarke, a branch manager with HSBC in London, has been playing for England for three years, and won the Golden Boot as top scorer in last year's European Championships, where they were narrowly beaten in the final by Spain.

His wife Pauline, who's from Holland, works for the Dutch Embassy in London.

They have been married for three years, but their loyalties are divided when it comes to the beautiful game.

David said: 'I tell Pauline the Dutch need to practice their penalties more - but they did get further than England last time around, so maybe it's good advice for England too.'