Thomas makes his pitch!

Goalkeeper Connor Ripley with Thomas Young at Oldham Athletic v Rochdale match. Thomas wrote to the club when he found out Connor was to leave Athletic at the end of the season.

LITTLE Latics fan Thomas Young had a day to remember when he joined the players and staff for pre-match training and coaching for Saturday's derby clash with Rochdale.

Thomas wrote to club chairman Simon Corney offering his services as replacement goalkeeper when his hero, on-loan Connor Ripley, returns to Middlesbrough.

The Latics chief responded by giving the five-year-old a "trial" before the final home game of the season when he joined the squad on the pitch to be put through his paces by Ripley, fellow goalkeeper Chris Kettings and goalkeeping coach Carlo Nash.

Young Thomas stayed in his full kit "just in case he was needed" as he watched the 1-1 draw from the main stand directors' box with parents Matthew and Sarah.

And the Chadderton lad wasn't fazed by a post-match interview for Radio 5 Live in which he cheekily suggested he might have prevented Rochdale's goal, before declaring his day out had been "fabulous."

Dad Matthew said: "We can't thank the club enough.

"The chairman, staff and players were fantastic with Thomas.

"They've made memories to last a little boy a lifetime."