EVERTON welcomed a rising urban music star to Goodison Park on Friday.

Josh Osho, 20, met with participants on Everton in the Community’s social inclusion programme ‘Kickz’ to explain how despite his troubled past he turned his life around and is now striving to become an acclaimed recording artist.

The singer-songwriter, who hails from South London, spent over an hour with the young people recalling how he fell into a life of drugs and crime in his teenage years which eventually resulted in him living in a homeless hostel.

“I was delighted to be invited to Goodison Park to meet the guys,” said Josh. “I wanted to let them know that a small section of your past doesn’t have to shape your future.”

After years of being involved in crime and anti-social behaviour, Josh realised that this wasn’t the path for him and set about making positive changes to his life, a message he was keen to pass onto Kickz participants.

But having cleaned up his act, Josh decided to enter a music competition, which he won, and his new career began. He is currently signed to Island Records and found himself in Liverpool as part of the MOBO tour.

For more information about Kickz, visit evertonfc.com/community or call 0151 530 5253.