ENGLAND’S World Cup group stage tie against Panama tomorrow (Sunday) will hold extra significance for former Frensham man Damion Potter.

Damion, who lived in Frensham between 1978 and 1983, from the age of four to nine, and is the son of former village bobby Brian Potter, was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Panama last October.

He said: “I am delighted to be the UK’s Ambassador to Panama at a really exciting time – and not only for the June 24 football match between England and Panama at the World Cup.

“We have growing commercial, cultural, people-to-people and security links. I am proud to represent UK interests and here, and am grateful to those who encouraged me as a youth to study and work hard, as well as to take an interest in the world around me.”

Last month, Damion played a central role in the Guest of Government visit of the Panamanian president, Juan Carlos Varela, to the UK.

Damion joined the president and his delegation in separate meetings with the Prime Minister Theresa May, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, with which Mr Varela exchanged football shirts, Chancellor Phillip Hammond, Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Secretary of State for International Trades Liam Fox, covering the full range of government-to-government links.

Lunch at Buckingham Palace with the Duke of York and a visit to Parliament with the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy sent a powerful signal of the importance of the relationship.

As a child, Damion attended Frensham village school and Waverley Abbey junior school. He went on to get straight As in his GCSEs, four A-Levels and a degree and Masters from Warwick University.

Damion has worked for the Foreign Office since 2000, with postings to Sweden, Russia and Taiwan. He also worked for three years as the International Communications Director for ESPN.

His father, Brian Potter, worked as police sergeant in Frensham and his mother, Beverley Potter, as a seamstress from their home in Frensham.

* England’s second World Cup group game against Panama kicks off at 1pm on Sunday.