UNIVERSITY of York goalkeeper Jonny Sim is dreaming of representing his country at next year's FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia after being invited to England training camps.

Sim has been a member of the Three Lions' development squad since February having caught the eye of selectors during his performances for York in the FA National Futsal League.

He is now targeting his first international cap, with England having just progressed through the World Cup preliminary qualifying stage of the five-a-side sport for the first-ever time.

Victories in Tel-Aviv over Wales (4-2), Denmark (5-4) and Israel (3-1) saw England make the Main Round of qualifiers, where they will contest a group including hosts Hungary, Ukraine and Belgium next month.

The top two teams from seven groups will then take part in two-legged play-off ties to decide which nations make the plane to South America next September.

On his hopes of being involved, Sim said: "I have been fortunate enough to be called up to the two most recent training camps with the senior team and it's an honour to be part of the England set up and something I am careful not to take for granted. I just need to work hard to be given the opportunity of that first cap now.

"Like most kids, since I was old enough to kick a ball, that has always been the ultimate goal. Now that I'm close to achieving it, I'm even more determined to do it and prove myself at this level.

"It's a busy period at the moment for England and we have never managed to qualify this far in the World Cup before. The games against Israel, Wales and Denmark were crucial and, whilst I didn't expect to be a part of the match squad for those fixtures, I wouldn't be attending the training camps if it wasn't my aim to be there in the future."

Sim is quick to pay tribute, meanwhile, to the role the university and coach Junior Roberti have played in his transformation into one of the country's finest futsal net-minders.

Super League outfit Nottingham are the only university on these shores to boast a team playing at a higher level than the Minster students, who have opened their North Division Two campaign with three straight wins.

Under Brazilian Roberti, York also reached last year's European University Championship in Malaga and Sim admitted: "I owe the University of York and our coach Junior Roberti everything. Without the opportunities the club gave me, I wouldn't even have taken up futsal and, without Junior's influence over the last four years, I would certainly not be where I am now.

"I have learnt so much from him and am very grateful for the time he has dedicated to his players, the motivation he has instilled in the club and the belief he has had in me. Looking back to when I started, it's staggering to see the club's development.

"From a couple of BUCS men's teams, we have grown into an established National League side, developed two incredible women's teams, a flourishing youth academy for all ages, a third men's team in BUCS, regular open sessions that encourage participation and developed opportunities for players to gain their own coaching qualifications. All of this has happened alongside the development of a sustainable club structure and, for that reason, I see nothing but more progress on the horizon."

Sim reckons that the club's good work can ensure more potential England internationals will hail from Heslington in coming years too.

"I hope that's the case," he reasoned. "The club now has such clear pathways for development, combined with a really strong talent pool, that there are real opportunities for more York players to be involved with England in the future."