A talented young amputee footballer with ambitions to play in the Paralympics has just returned from an intensive training camp in Poland.

Hartsbourne Primary School pupil and huge Watford FC fan Rio Woolf, nine, from Bushey Heath, was one of 15 players called up to the England Amputee Football Association (EAFA) Junior Squad to attend the European Amputee Football Federation's (EAFF) Junior Camp in Warsaw. 

READ MORE: Young amputee to join GB junior squad

Juniors aged five to 16 from nine different countries - England, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Scotland, Turkey and the Netherlands - came together at the outstanding SoccerArena in Warsaw - a sporting centre of excellence which boasts seven 3G pitches.

The three-day camp, organised by the EAFF and the Polish equivalent Amp Futbol Polska, was open to children from all amputee football countries and is paving the way for the future of the sport by giving rising stars high quality and intensive training from a young age.

Young footballers were afforded the opportunity to play in a structured and fun environment while having the chance to meet new friends.

Rio’s mother Juliette said: “Rio had the most fantastic time during the three-day training event, receiving excellent coaching, improving his skills, catching up with old friends, making new friends and having lots of fun.

“His confidence was boosted enormously by playing football with other limb-different children.

Watford Observer:

(credit: Maciej Gillert/mediapictures.pl)

“As proud parents, Trevor and I had a wonderful time watching our son in his element training at the biggest Junior Amputee Football event of the year, and as Rio's late great-grandfather travelled to England with his family as a baby from a small village in Poland called Rupin at the turn of the last century, it was very special for us to have time between training sessions to see the beautiful old town of Warsaw.”

But the hard work does not stop there for Rio and his teammates, who have ambitions to compete for their country in the amputee football discipline at the Paralympic Games in 2024.

You can follow Rio on FacebookTwitter and Instagram @bladeboyrio