A TEENAGE football fan is set to fulfil a dream by playing at Middlesbrough Football Club’s Riverside stadium with ex-players for charity.

Terry Carline has battled to overcome anxiety to secure a place onto a level two coaching course at Middlesbrough Futsal Club.

And as a result of his determination, the 17-year-old, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, has been given the chance to play in the charity match thanks to Cornerstone Business Solutions’ director Chris Petty – who also suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for more than eight years.

The Stockton-based company has offered the teenager a place on their team in the forthcoming charity match to raise funds for Butterwick Hospice.

He will get ready for the match in the club’s changing room and run out alongside Neil Maddison and Craig Hignett, along with the Cornerstone team, in a tournament of four sides on Friday, May 24.

He said: “I can’t believe it I’m going to be playing on the pitch at Middlesbrough. I love football – it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do and I’m really excited about the Cornerstone game.”

Mr Petty said: “It’s brilliant what Terry has achieved, I know how awful and debilitating panic attacks and anxiety can be - it took me a long time to overcome them but once I did I never looked back.”