For Liam, who competes in the 100m hurdles in the intermediate boys, has previously represented South Yorkshire in the English Schools at cross country and combined events.

Liam's first taste of English Schools' competition was at cross country where he produced a creditable performance in the Under-15s at Leeds.

But for injury, Liam would have represented South Yorkshire on two more occasions.

The 16 year-old no longer runs cross country - preferring to play football in the winter.

He competed in last season's English Schools' Combined Events Championships in Birmingham - recovering from a knee infection which had kept him out for over a year just in time to make the regional rounds. Last weekend he won through to his second Combined Events Championships, being held in Bedford in September, when winning the North East intermediate boys octathlon at Jarrow,

He set a new personal best when leaping 6.18m in the long jump.