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Amazing gap year for student Daniel
GAP years are meant to be an adventure – but few could top the experience Bridlington teenager Daniel Clarke is having.
As if teaching football in South Africa during World Cup year was not a big enough thrill, he also appears in the new television advert for Visa.
The commercial has started to be shown on British TV screens, and can be viewed on the internet, although Daniel's role is fairly fleeting.
His dad, Dr Anthony Clarke, a GP at Bridlington Medical Centre, said: "It's a really good advert. It follows a runner who starts off as an overweight football supporter in his living room in this country.
"There's a goal and he jumps up, picks up his Visa card and runs all the way to South Africa, getting thinner as he gets closer.
"You see him going past all the landmarks and eventually, he runs into the stadium and becomes a player.
"He is an actor but when he scores a goal, Daniel is one of the players who celebrates by sliding across the turf.
"He's not the first guy who slides across, but the one behind him."
A keen hockey and tennis player, Daniel began playing football for Bridlington Rangers at the age of six.
"John Gibson was his first coach and recognised he had good ball skills and he went on to play for Rangers through the age groups," said Dr Clarke.
He is due to go to university in September, but is currently working coaching football and promoting HIV awareness among children in South Africa.
Based in Pretoria, he goes into prisons and schools to spread the message, working for Ambassadors in Sport as volunteer intern.
Dr Clarke added: He has been involved with a "Match for a Day" 24 hours of continuous football in Orlando Stadium working in partnership with Lee Sharpe's coaching organisation.
"He will be in South Africa until after the World Cup and he has tickets for several games.
"He also saw the England cricket team play this winter.
Daniel attended St Mary's and Bridlington Schools, as well as Scarborough College.
"He's having quite an adventure, not many 18-year-olds get the chances he has," his dad said.
See the advert at www.visa.co.uk/fifaworldcupad/main.html
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Weather for Bridlington
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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