Orenuja joy at record

Published: 03/12/2008

Femi Orenuja admits it was a "brilliant experience" to become the youngest player ever to play for Southend.

The 15-year-old - who has also trained with Manchester United - came off the bench in injury time of Saturday's 3-1 FA Cup second-round win over Luton to beat the record set by goalkeeper Ray White back in 1962.

"When I got the call from Steve Tilson I knew it was a big opportunity for me but I was very nervous," he told the club's official website.

"I found out a couple of days before I was going to be involved and it`s all I could think about when I was at school on Friday.

"I couldn`t sleep that night either but it was a brilliant experience for me."