Matt Wolstenholme makes ‘keepy-uppy’ history

A personal trainer from Kingsbury, who recovered from a mystery condition which threatened to leave him unable to walk, has set a football world record.

Matt Wolstenholme, has set the benchmark for the longest distance of ‘keepy uppy’ by keeping a football in the air without using his hands for 20 kilometres.

Mr Wolstenholme, who has been a keen footballer since he was a child, was struck down with a mystery back condition in his early 20s which left him in chronic pain and barely able to walk.

Despite seeing several doctors and consultants, he never received a definitive diagnosis but regained full mobility through a strict exercise regime, which inspired him to become a personal trainer.

He achieved the feat after completing 50 laps of the athletics track at Harrow School.

The 30-year-old, who lives in Kingsbury Road, said it was ‘amazing’ to call himself a world record holder.

He said: “It was a tough challenge, I was out there for five hours in the wind and rain and I didn’t eat or drink anything.

“Most of the time I simply kicked the ball from foot to foot, but there were a couple of hairy moments around the bends and every once in a while I had to use my knees to control the ball.

“Everything was aching by the end, but it was worth it.”

The record was set on Thursday, August 30, but Mr Wolstenholme had a nervous wait before Guinness World Records issued official confirmation today (Wednesday).