A SPORTY teenager who overcame his learning difficulties to excel at football was awarded by England World Cup legend Gordon Banks.

Dean Sansom, of Hanwell, won the Football League Trust’s Every Player Counts for London and the South East. He was presented with the prize at the 2012 Grassroots Show in Birmingham.

The 17-year-old has hyperekplexia (CORR), a rare neurological disorder affecting muscles and causing speech and learning difficulties.

But despite his disability, Dean attended Brentford FC’s disability scheme in 2005 and has progressed immensely. He has recently joined Brentford’s Kickz outreach project and now plays for the London Cerebral Palsy team.

The determined teen said: “I have a season ticket at Queen’s Park Rangers. I love watching them because Adel Taarabt is my favourite player, but winning this award is such a special honour. I want to thank all the people who have helped me, especially my mum. It has made me very happy.”

Proud mum Stephanie knows how important winning the award is for her son.

“He is such a dedicated boy, and the Every Player Counts award will help give him extra confidence and belief in what he is achieving,” she said. “Brentford’s disability scheme has made a big impact on Dean’s life and the award is the icing on the cake.”

Stephanie has seen Dean grow in confidence, self-esteem and improved his speech and vocabulary over the past year and said the Kickz sessions have vastly developed his social skills.

Every Player Counts is supported by The Football Pools who donated £2.59million to the project.

Mike Evans, general manager of the football trust, said: “Congratulations to Dean on his award, which is thoroughly deserved.

“To have been involved with Brentford for over seven years, progressing through to the London CP team shows a dedication and commitment that the judges were very impressed with.”