Manchester United defender Chris Smalling admits he almost walked away from the game as a young player.

Smalling was speaking after becoming a patron of Football Beyond Borders.

He said: “I've had many set-backs, even when I was 11 and not getting in for your county or having setbacks in your career or just in life in general, I think it is about kids having a dream and seeing a pathway to realise that.

“That's massively important with this programme – I think when you speak to the young kids, they have also dreams but a lot of people say its impossible so I think it's about never giving up.

“If you aren't sometimes in a privileged position when you're growing up you can feel that life's against you and that you're never really going to achieve whatever young dream you have, so programmes like this are massively important to bring that divide closer and make every kid realise they have a chance."