A quartet of North-East footballers has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles this year.

One thing stands in front of the players and their dream, however, as they must raise £2,500 each to cover the cost of competing in the 11-a-side competition.

Andy Hetherington, 24, from Stanley, Alex Sawyer Copus, 17, from Houghton-le-Spring, Michael MacGurk, 18, from Leadgate and Brad Whitfield, 19, from Annfield Plain, are appealing for sponsors along with coach Bobby Coltman, 27, from Chester-le-Street.

The players and their coach were selected for the event following an outstanding season for their club, Beamish Dynamos, who won the top division in the North-East Ability Counts League, the largest disability league in the country.

The club was founded by Coltman and his father Tom seven years ago and the 27-year-old admitted it would mean everything for the players to compete on the world stage.

“We identified a lack of opportunities for people with disabilities to play competitive football in Derwentside,” Coltman explained. “The club has grown substantially over time. We now have 35 players and four teams competing in the North East Ability Counts League as well as other national competitions.

“I’m delighted that the players’ hard work and dedication to their sport over the past few years has been recognised.

“Competing at the World Games would enable them to continue their development as players and people.

“The lads’ commitment to their training and their positive attitude to continue to learn and develop as athletes has been a huge part of them being selected to represent their country at the highest level.

“I am delighted they have this opportunity and I’m excited to see how well they can do on a world stage.

“I have seen these lads progress from playing school yard football to becoming one of the best teams in the North-East and it would be great to see them embark on another journey to becoming one of the best teams in the world.

“They have worked relentlessly hard to develop their skills and now have the opportunity to test themselves at the highest level.”

The quartet has already enjoyed successes at national competitions in Harrogate and Pontefract, while they also won the World Cup in Bradford in 2010.

The team also competed in an international tournament in Assen, Holland, where the senior team remained undefeated, and they are now planning an assault on the Special Olympics as part of Team GB.

Held at various sports facilities in Los Angeles, the competition, which is the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, takes place between July 25 and August 2.

The only barrier that stands in their way is the £2,500 each individual has to raise to cover the costs of flights, kit, insurance and squad training weekends in the build up to the competition.

If you are interested in sponsoring Andy, Alex, Michael, Brad and Bobby please contact Bobby Coltman on coltman_rob@hotmail.com.