A SQUAD of talented young footballers from across Leeds are jetting out to the US to meet megastar David Beckham and play a team from his new club LA Galaxy.
Before that they will play a charity match in West Yorkshire against a celebrity squad put together by Leeds teenager Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter movies.
Gus Morrison, Danielle Morrison and Wayne Priestley with Harry Potter star Mathew Lewis
The 18-year-old, from Horsforth, will take to the pitch with fellow Hogwarts students Fred and George Weasley, James and Oliver Phelps, plus Emmerdale actors including James Hooten who plays Sam Dingle, and Ben Freeman.
Matthew, who stars in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix alongside top British actors Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes and Michael Gambon, will attend the premiere in London next week two days after the match.
Matthew got involved to raise money for charity and help promote new non-profit-making organisation Rancell UK, based in Rawdon, Leeds.
Trip
It aims to take budding British soccer stars, like his mates Tom and Ben Wilkinson,who play for Guiseley Under-19s, to the US in the hope they will be signed up.
Rancell UK was set up by Wayne Priestley and Gus Morrison. They have organised the two-week trip to the States where the 18-to-23-year-olds will train with LA Galaxy, play the reserves and watch Beckham make his debut against Chelsea on July 21.
Wayne, 38, said: "They're going to be having a photoshoot with him (Beckham) I believe."
They came up with the idea after Wayne took Tom and Ben, his partner's sons, to California in February for LA Galaxy's open trials.
The 18-year-olds weren't picked but the manager invited them back with a full squad. Gus and Wayne held trials at Guiseley Football Club last month and picked the best 15 for Rancell United.
The charity match is at 3pm on Sunday July 1 at the Keighley Cougars Stadium. Gates open at 1pm. Tickets are available on the day, £5 for adults, £2 concessions.
