England star Nico O’Reilly’s street skills were always ‘cut above’, says head

The headteacher of Nico O’Reilly’s school has told how the England star who helped the team book a quarter-final place in the World Cup was “a cut above everyone” when playing in the street as a boy.

Paddy McMahon, head of St Patrick’s RC Primary School in Collyhurst, Manchester, said the left-back lived close by and would often be seen nearby honing his skills.

“A lot of our older children remember him playing on the street,” he said.

McMahon said the school were delighting in the Three Lions’ World Cup journey and watching the 21-year-old Manchester City player on the world stage “inspired” pupils “to believe anything they want to do is possible as well”.

England won 3-2 to face Norway in the quarter-final in Miami on Saturday at 22:00 BST.

O’Reilly’s “unbelievable talent” was spotted at the age of six, according to scout Garry Riley.

O’Reilly has described how, growing up in Collyhurst, he loved playing sports and doing outdoor activities.

He said he would play “everywhere – on the grass, on the streets”.

“We used to go to the little cage and play there. There used to be about 30 of us that used to go out and play and just have a good time,” he said.

McMahon told BBC Radio Manchester the school was so proud of his rise to the national team.

“A lot of our older children remember him playing on the street and obviously even as a young lad going through City’s academy he was a cut above everybody else,” he said.

“We always say to our children there is no ceiling on their ambitions and when they see someone they recognise from their community on the world stage and doing their very best, and hopefully bringing the World Cup home, it reinforces that they can achieve whatever they want in their lives.”