A YORK City & District Referees' Association member has been selected to officiate at a prestigious youth footballing tournament in the United States.

Conor Ledgeway, 20, heads to the Dallas Cup in April, where it is believed he will become the first-ever referee to represent York at the tournament.

The highly-regarded 10-day competition - which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year - is for under-13 to U19 teams and has featured teams from Real Madrid, Arsenal and Dynamo Moscow, and counts David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard among its alumni. The most recent three winners are Mexico's Tigres UANL, FC Dallas from the US and Everton.

Ledgeway, 20, a final-year sports science student at York St John University, will represent the FA along with five other referees of his level from across the country.

Also travelling will be referee coaches from Premier Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for match officials in English professional football.

Ledgeway, who has previously refereed at the Iber Cup in Portugal as well as the Danish FA Exchange, said: "It will be hugely beneficial to receive coaching advice from the same people who coach those at the elite level of the game. I will learn and take away a lot from the experience.

"It will be a great experience to go and referee at the very prestigious Dallas Cup. It is a huge tournament attracting world-class youth academies that will be a privilege to referee.

"I am very proud to have been selected and offered the chance to work with fellow referees, some of whom are professional on the FIFA list, refereeing at previous World Cups."

York FA secretary Barry Casterton said: "Once again, it is pleasing to see the hard work of a young referee, local referee coaches and football officials pay off and assist in producing such a bright candidate for future progression throughout the game."

Ledgeway has so far received sponsorship from York RA, York FA and North Riding County FA towards the trip.