A DREAM has come true for football crazy John Barnes, thanks to World readers.

The Runcorn goalie, known to his friends as Peanut, trained with Real Madrid players in the famous Bernabeu Stadium after winning a worldwide competition.

Your votes helped him achieve his goal to become the only UK contestant in the Movistar Real Madrid Challenge.

John, aged 26, of Hallwood Park, a sales advisor at the O2 call centre in Preston Brook, said: “I cannot thank you guys at The World enough. I am still in the clouds. It was absolutely priceless.

“We trained with eight players from the first team. I saved a penalty in the actual game.

“Even when I talk about it now hairs stand up on the back of my neck.”

John, who plays for the Eight Towers in Widnes, was thrilled to meet former Liverpool and World Cup legend Fernando Morientes and Xabi Alonso.

He added: “It won’t ever be beaten.”