Old school ties strong for Joleon

Sep 5 2007 By Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

HUNDREDS of pupils at a Birmingham school will be taking a much keener interest than most in England's vital Euro 2008 football qualifying matches.

Sports-mad youngsters at Four Dwellings High in Quinton will be hoping to see former pupil Joleon Lescott, make his first appearance for the national side.

Birmingham-born Joleon, who celebrated his 25th birthday last month, has been called up by England manager Steve McLaren for the home Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel on Saturday and Russia next Wednesday.

The footballing milestone represents an amazing turnaround in his life after he suffered a severe head injury in a collision with a car outside his city primary school while aged just five.

The scar on his forehead is a permanent reminder of the major surgery he underwent following the accident.

Central defender Joleon, whose younger brother Aaron plays for Bristol Rovers, is currently impressing for Everton after they signed him from Wolves.

He was spotted while playing youth football for the Grinham Giants in the Quinton Little League.

Four Dwellings High, which Aaron also attended, had an extra reason to celebrate this week after he and Joleon's younger sister, Hope, started her secondary schooling for the first time.

Head teacher Bernie Smith said of the rising England star: "He's a lovely, lovely lad.

"We have been watching him for quite a while now and this call-up by England is thoroughly deserved.

"What I really like about Joleon is the enthusiasm he showed in school which he is now bringing to his football. That's why he is doing so well."

Joleon's late England call-up this week came after he scored the winner for Everton against Bolton on Saturday.

Bernie added: "He scored a lot of goals when he played for the school. But he wasn't a centre-back then."