A newly formed Claygate football team, with the what is thought to be world’s first blind manager, has been promoted to a more competitive division, after winning their first three games convincingly.

Tony Shearman, gaffer for the Claygate Royals “Foleys” U7 team, said it had been a “dream start”.

He explained: “It’s against the rules for games to be ‘competitive’ at this level, so the league tables are not published.

"The leagues are organised in sections of capability, so we have now been put in the Moore section of the Surrey Primary League.

“The Maldini section, which we were playing in for the first three games, was basically made up of the B-teams of the teams we will now play against."

Mr Shearman, who lives in Elm Road, Claygate, formed the Claygate Royals “Foleys” with his friend Andrew Brown, after their sons, Harry and Daragh respectively, were unable to join the over-subscribed Claygate Royals “Hares” U7 team.

Mr Shearman, nicknamed Arsene Wenger by Mr Brown, because of the infamous reputation the Arsenal coach has for failing to see fouls his players allegedly perpetrate, said he was extremely impressed with his boys so far this season.

He said: “They’ve been brilliant. When we started we had no idea of their capability on the pitch, but it soon became apparent.

“But they’ve also got to learn to lose as well, so complacency doesn’t set in. In that respect, we welcome this new challenge.”