A DALTON footballer has bowed out at the top, having played his final game at one of the world's greatest stadiums.

Former Dalton United and Crooklands Casuals goalkeeper Paul Hewson, 36, retired from local football two seasons ago, but he pulled on the gloves one final time to live out his lifelong dream of playing at the Nou Camp.

After landing the star prize in a competition on Instagram - a photo sharing social media site - Barcelona sponsors Beko treated him and his dad, Keith, to an all-expenses paid, VIP trip to the 99,354-seater arena. The weekend visit also saw him join a training session with the Champions League-winning side's coaches and play an 11-a-side game alongside 21 fellow winners from around the world.

Mr Hewson said: "I've been to the Nou Camp once on a friend's stag do and literally couldn't have sat any higher up in the stadium - you couldn't even make out the players.

"To walk out onto the pitch with the Barca anthem playing was unreal and an experience I'll look back on for years. A proper "one to tell your grandchildren about" moment.

"My boots and gloves are 100 per cent going in the bin now so I can say I finished at the Nou Camp, and not many can say that."

Sporting the famous red and blue shirt himself since he was a toddler, Mr Hewson visited the club's website with the hope of convincing his son, Joshua, three, to follow the Spanish champions from an early age.

Stumbling upon the online competition, with the top prize being a weekend living the life of Leo Messi and Luis Suarez, laid on by appliance manufacturing giant and Barcelona's commercial partner Beko, he decided to throw his hat in the ring by mocking up a famous club photo in his back garden.

He said: "My first kit was Barcelona, and I've always had a soft spot for them mainly from holidaying in Spain as a kid.

"I went on the Barca website looking for a link to the club shop to get something for my little boy and saw a link to the competition.

"Originally I thought it was for a signed top, then they released the full details of what the prize included and I was pinching myself.

"The highlights were a training session with Barcelona's development coaches, and also taking the official players' bus from the hotel to the training ground and to the Nou Camp. The free meals and drinks were an added bonus!"