A 13-year-old schoolboy from Heywood has stunned the international inline hockey scene after returning from Spain with a gold medal and an unbeaten record in goal.
Jack Morton, a Year 9 pupil at Holy Family RC and CE College in Heywood, was the star performer at an international inline hockey tournament in Fuengirola, Spain, where he helped his team to tournament victory without letting in a single goal.
The 13-year-old was drafted in as a last-minute replacement netminder for the Hornets after their regular goalkeeper was unable to travel. Despite the short notice, Jack delivered a flawless run of games, keeping a clean sheet across every match.
He was the only netminder across all age categories to achieve a shutout throughout the competition, helping the Hornets clinch the gold medal in the under-14 (2011/12) division.
The trip was made possible thanks to sponsorship from local business EMCamperX, who funded Jack’s travel and accommodation costs, enabling him to take part and represent the UK on the international stage.
Jack also plays ice hockey for Widnes Wild Academy and is already looking ahead to further international events. He hopes to compete in Germany, Latvia, Spain and France in 2026 and is now actively seeking sponsorship to support his continued development.
Speaking after his return, Jack said:
“It was an amazing experience to play against teams from across Europe and to come away without conceding a goal was just incredible. I’m really grateful to EMCamperX for making it possible.”
The youngster’s performance in Spain has drawn praise from local sports coaches and the wider hockey community, with calls for more investment in grassroots sports to help support rising talent like Jack.
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