After taking his first step on the ladder to soccer stardom, young Matthew Haymner has made already made a lot of people proud.

The 11-year-old soccer starlet has signed Academy forms with Premiership giants Sunderland and in doing so becomes the first member of Darlington Albion Juniors to do so.

Steve Wason is manager of the Albion Under-11s, who Matthew was spotted playing for by Sunderland scouts Peter Cook and Joe Dumighan, and says the club are delighted with the 11-year-old striker.

"We are all really pleased with Matthew," said Steve who is also vice-chairman of the Albion who have been running since 1995. "One season he and Callum Tarren scored more than a 100 goals in one season - they were the town's leading scorers.

"Everybody at the club are proud of him."

Matthew, a pupil at Darlington's Heathfield Junior School, has been attending Sunderland's Development Centre in Spennymoor for the last six months but had trials with Leeds United before the Black Cats made their move to sign the protg.

Although Matthew's opportunities to play for Darlington Albion are now restricted because of his Sunderland commitments, he will be available to play in the team's League Cup final versus Richmond next month.