CHELMSFORD City have an international football champion in their midst after Spencer Pratten captained the over-60s walking football team to victory over Italy.

Pratten, who plays for Chelmsford City Walking Football Club, was selected to represent England and was additionally handed the armband in the sport’s first ever international tournament.

Held at Brighton & Hove Albion’s Amex Stadium, Pratten was part of a team that included Tommy Charlton, brother to England’s 1966 World Cup winning pair Bobby and Jack.

Following his appointment as captain, Pratten said: “I made the team and they made me England captain!

“I am still in a daze but so proud to be the Essex boy skippering the national side. I am proud for Chelmsford City FC and proud for Essex.

“Hopefully I feel my appointment will give all of our Essex sides a lift. I was up there with all the big name teams involved in walking football from the Midlands and The North and to get Essex on the map felt great.”

He was joined on the over-60s squad by Alan Kennedy, 63, winner of two European Cups with Liverpool.

Peter Stacey netted a hat-trick for England over-60s, which followed on from a 2-0 win for the over-50s side.

The sport has specific rules, with no running allowed and allows either no contact or only minimal physical contact between players as well as over-head height restrictions and indirect free-kicks.

There are more than 1,100 clubs and an estimated 35,000 players participating in walking football.