AT THE age of nine Jamie Allen can already boast that he has scored a goal in front of a capacity crowd at Southampton.

The Basingstoke schoolboy netted the equalising goal in Matthew Le Tissier's testimonial match at St Mary's on Tuesday night as the game finished 9-9.

The Saints supporter, who was a ball boy at the game, got his chance to play after former England manager Kevin Keegan handed the youngster his shirt and sent him on to the field with four minutes left.

Jamie, from Eastrop, said he was shocked at first, but he showed no nerves as he slotted home to score the final goal for the England XI.

The overjoyed youngster said: "It was the best moment of my life."

Allen also got to keep Keegan's shirt, which is too large for him at the moment so his father, David, has bought him a replica shirt for the World Cup.

Mr Allen, also a Saints supporter, said: "I am looking forward to wearing the Keegan shirt during the World Cup and until it fits Jamie!"

He added: "I don't think Jamie could believe it when he got the chance to play. He is enjoying the fame that has gone with it as people realise it was him who got on and scored."

The Rucstall Primary School pupil will make his Peter Houseman League debut next season for Basing Rovers' under-11 side.

In the St Mary's game, Keegan was joined in the star-studded England XI by legends such as Paul Gascoigne and Ian Wright. They found themselves 1-0 down to the home side at half-time, but a 17-goal fest after the break saw the game level at the final whistle.

But the scoreline did not matter as the match was a fitting tribute to Southampton's greatest talent in his final game and a few tears were shed, both on and off the pitch.