BRADFORD'S Matthew Wilson has been selected for the England North Wheelchair basketball squad at the 2018 School Games – a national multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes taking place at Loughborough University from August 30 to September 2.

The 16-year-old, who is a student at Titus Salt School, is a member of Sheffield Wheelers Wheelchair Basketball Club.

Over 1,400 athletes will compete across 11 sports at the School Games, five of which include disability disciplines. This year the School Games has introduced four new sports (canoeing and rowing, laser run, netball and triathlon).

The event will give many young people, across a variety of different sports, an experience of high-level competition in a multi-sport environment similar to an Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Matthew will be following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the event before going on to senior international success. Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprinter Adam Gemili.

Matthew will live in a dedicated Athletes’ Village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in the School Games ceremony and perform in front of big crowds.

“The School Games National Finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Matthew,” says Ali Oliver, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust.

“Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”

The 2018 School Games is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and Home Country Sports Councils and is delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

Tickets for the event are available now, at https://www.schoolgamesfinals.org/buy-tickets/