13-year-old breaks record as UK's youngest ever senior soccer player

• A Northern Irish teen has become the UK's youngest ever senior soccer player.
• Christopher Atherton made his debut for Glenavon on Tuesday, at 13 years and 329 days old

A 13-year-old schoolboy became the UK's youngest ever senior soccer player on Tuesday night, when he made his debut for Northern Irish team Glenavon FC.

Christopher Atherton came on as a second-half substitute as Glenavon beat Dollingstown 6-0 in the League Cup.

He was 13 years and 329 days old.

The previous record for the UK's youngest senior soccer player was set 42 years ago, by Eamon Collins, who played for Blackpool at age 14 years and 323 days.

"Congratulations Christo!" wrote Glenavon on Twitter.

Not only did Atherton make his debut, he also provided an assist for Glenavon's sixth goal.

"Also, not to mention, his first touch of the ball tonight was an assist!" added Glenavon in a second tweet. "What an amazing debut!"

Speaking after the match, Glenavon head coach Gary Hamilton described Atherton as a "great kid."

"I've had the pleasure of watching him every other week for the past seven or eight years," said Hamilton. "He's a joy to watch."

While Atherton might be the UK's youngest ever senior soccer player, he isn't the world's.

According to Guinness World Records, that title belongs to Bolivian Mauricio Baldivieso, who played for Aurora FC at age 12 years and 362 days in 1996.

Baldivieso came on as a substitute in the second half during a match La Paz after the coach brought him on as an early birthday present.