A TALENTED teenager who swapped the football pitch for a pop career has got through to the next round of ITV's The Voice UK.

Harri Oakland, 19, wowed Jennifer Hudson in the 'Blind Audition' - in which contestants sing to the judges who initially have their backs turned - and now he faces the battle round.

Millions of viewers on Saturday saw Harri, of Birkenshaw, picked by Hudson who spun around and hit her button when he sang James Arthur's Say You Won’t Let Go. Harri, whose family watched backstage with presenter Emma Willis, said performing for Oscar-winner Hudson and other judges Olly Murs, Tom Jones and will.i.am was nerve-wracking.

"I walked on and there was a 30 second silence before the music started," said Harri. "When you watch it on TV it's about five seconds because it's edited, but being on that stage, looking at the back of the judges' red chairs, with the audience staring at me, was scary! All I could see was will.i.am's foot."

Harri has been working with Hudson - who shot to fame in 2004 on American Idol and won an Oscar, a Bafta and a Golden Globe for Dreamgirls - on preparing for the Battle round, which sees him compete with another singer from her team. Each judge decides who to take from their team to the Knockout round.

"I've spent time with Jennifer, she's a great coach," said Harri. "It's been amazing so far."

He did the audition in Manchester last October after being contacted by talent scouts. "They found me online. I was in two minds at first because I've been doing music for two years and have a fanbase. I wasn't sure about a talent show," he said. "But then I thought it would be an amazing experience so I did a few auditions and was called back."

After doing GCSEs at Whitcliffe Mount School, Cleckheaton, Harri won a youth scholarship for Chesterfield Football Club. "Football was my passion as a kid but I lost interest, came home and did plastering and plumbing at college. Singing was what I really wanted to do," he said. "My style is pop and R&B. I grew up listening to artists like Justin Timberlake, Usher and Ne-yo.

"I started posting covers online and was picked up by an agent, Spike Dawbarn who was in the band 911. Now I've performed around the UK and Ireland.

"My idol is Tori Kelly. I'd love to do a duet with her."