A FOOTBALL-MAD boy from Winsford who suffers from an extremely rare genetic disorder now has his very own theatre of dreams after Winsford united to help him achieve his goals.

Ben Duckworth, 9, suffers from a range of serious health conditions, including brain damage and epilepsy, which doctors think will worsen as he gets older

Parents, Alison and Ray need to be there for him all through the night as well as caring for their other three children.

Ben, who goes to Wharton Cof E School, loves playing football but due to his need for constant supervision isn’t able to join in with children playing in the street.

His family asked Weaver Vale Housing Trust if they could extend their back yard to allow him a space to kick a ball about in.

The trust instead came up with the idea of removing tree stumps and paving from the front garden to create a football pitch with artificial grass where Ben and his pals could play.

Alison said: “It’s absolutely brilliant, it’s made a world of difference. All Ben ever wants to do is play football – now he has somewhere to play where I can see him and know he is safe.

“Ben used to have to look over the fence at the local children playing, now they can come and play with him.

“I’d really like to thank everyone who made this happen, especially Karen Kennedy from Weaver Vale who listened to what we needed and found a way to bring it to life.”

Weaver Vale Housing Trust staff carried out the work, while the cost of the pitch was paid for by a grant from mental health charity the Richmond Fellowship.

Northwich firm, Sant and Tickle Joinery, fitted garage doors, Sutcliffe Play donated safety mats and the Landscape Group donated a safety surface.

Karen Kennedy Weaver Vale Housing Trust’s environment team leader, said: “It’s so great to see Ben so happy playing football.

“Housing trust’s like Weaver Vale are not just there to provide homes and services but to help where we can to make lives better.”