TWO promising young footballers have been snapped up by Manchester United’s Academy.

Maizie Butterworth, aged nine and from Ramsbottom, and Radcliffe eight-year-old Halle Morley have both put pen to paper with the Red Devils in a major step in their young football careers.

The friends played together at Ramsbottom United with Butterworth also playing for Accrington Stanley and Morley at Bolton Wanderers.

Goalkeeper Butterworth was rejected by Manchester City last year but was spotted by United in September and invited to train with their development squad, being offered a contract for the 2020/21 season last month.

Morley is following in the footsteps of her dad, Bernard, the one-time manager of Ramsbottom who is now joint boss of Chester in the National League North alongside long-time partner Anthony Johnson, the pair having also worked together at Salford City.