EASTLEIGH'S James Trant says he is “living the dream” after getting another call-up for the England walking football team.

A Southampton Schoolboy in his youth, the 63-year-old is part of a ten-strong squad, managed by Stuart Langworthy, who will be travelling to Gibraltar on Thursday ready to play the hosts on Saturday.

Trant, a midfielder/forward, retired from the family business, Southampton-based Trant Engineering Ltd, in December 2015 and kick-started his retirement at Eastleigh Walking Football Club.

A life-long football fan, he said: “I’ve always loved the beautiful game, having played for Southampton Schoolboys and scored two goals at the old Dell.

Southampton FC offered me an apprenticeship and, for some reason I’ll never quite understand, I thought my future was elsewhere.

“But I couldn’t be more proud to now wear an England shirt and represent my country.

“Standing there with the team singing our national anthem – it doesn’t get better than that!”

Trant & co will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of victories having already defeated Italy and Wales.

They will play a warm-up match against a team of expats on Friday to gear them up for the big day.

Boss Langworthy said: “This is all self-funded. We are all paying for flights and hotel.

“That is why we are actively seeking sponsorship to support us in what we are doing, whether on game-by-game basis or by backing a player.

“It is a big do in Gibraltar as we are playing at the national stadium on the international pitch.

"There will be all kinds of dignitaries there, which is brilliant as we like to do things properly."

England squad: John Hammonds (Stroud/Abbeymead Rovers, aged 60), Tony Jones (Blackburn Rovers, 62), Alan Davies (Leggy Mambos, 64), John Sykes (Long Bennington, 65), James Trant (Eastleigh, 63), Peter Stacey (Sheffield Utd, 63), Graham Curry (Long Bennington, 62), Vic Vaines (Leggy Mambos, 66), Graham Collier (Matlock, 67), Spencer Pratten (Chelmsford City, 63).