Noble-Lazarus makes history

Barnsley Striker Reuben Noble-Lazarus aged 15 years and 45 days became the Football League’s youngest player when he came on in the 84th minute of Barnsley’s 3-0 defeat at Portman Road last night.

Noble-Lazarus beat the record which was held by Bradford Park Avenue’s Albert Geldard in 1929 and equalled by Wrexham’s Ken Roberts in 1951, both were 15 years and 158 days.

In the last 20 years, Millwall’s Moses Ashikodi was the youngest player to make his Football League debut. He played in 2003, aged 15 years and 240 days.

Matthew Etherington, now with Premier League side West Ham, was 15 years and 262 days when he appeared for Peterborough in 1997.

The youngest player to ever appear in a first-class game was Eammon Collins who appeared for Blackpool in the Anglo-Scottish Cup against Kilmarnock on the 9th September 1980 at the tender age of 14 years and 323 days.