This probably isn't the first time you've read a claim that a promising young footballer looks set to be the next David Beckham.But George Yusuff's latest achievement might just set him apart from the rest.

This probably isn't the first time you've read a claim that a promising young footballer looks set to be the next David Beckham.

But George Yusuff's latest achievement might just set him apart from the rest.

The 11-year-old from Gorleston has just won a soccer skills competition that Beckham won at the same age, 23 years ago.

George, who plays for the Gorleston Rangers and also attends the Norwich City Development Centre, was selected to compete in the Soccer International Skills competition.

George, and 15 other finalists from all over the world, met up at the Bobby Charlton Soccer and Sports Academy in Sale, Manchester, earlier this month.

The boys, aged nine to 16, came from as far afield as America, Iceland, Spain and Dubai. They took part in a gruelling three-hour training session conducted by Manchester United's first team coach, Rene Meulensteen, before battling it out in the skills competition.

George came joint first with a 15-year-old boy from Kuwait and beat him in the play-off to win the overall title.

Beckham won the same competition when he was

also 11.

George has won a week's residential course at the Bobby Charlton Academy plus tickets to a European match.

Hee said: “I had a brilliant time at the soccer skills event. It was amazing to do the same training session that Rene does with Manchester United's first team and to practise with so many great players.

“I still can't believe that I actually won the competition or that one of the people who won it before me is David Beckham. How cool is that!”

Gorleston Rangers honorary secretary Chris Dunne who hosted the Soccer Skills event, says: “What is outstanding about George is that, not only was he up against 15 of the best young footballers in the world, but nearly everyone he beat was considerably older than him. This is a huge achievement for an 11-year-old boy and he really is one to watch.”