One Direction heart-throb Louis Tomlinson has made his professional soccer debut for Doncaster reserves, delighting more than 5000 hardcore fans with his cameo appearance.
Doncaster Rovers fan Tomlinson, whose band have had three consecutive number one albums in the United States and won two Brit Awards earlier in February, came on as a second-half substitute in the Final Third Development League fixture against Rotherham as part of a joint partnership with local charity Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice.
Tomlinson's 65th-minute arrival at right-back was greeted by a deafening ovation from the bumper 5333 crowd - consisting mostly of die-hard "Directioners" who had come from as far afield as Michigan and Mexico to watch their hero strut his stuff.
The pop prince had limited chances to showcase his footballing X Factor and struck a bum note in the 89th minute of the 0-0 draw when he fell on his backside attempting a pass.
He had more touches of his trademark floppy hairdo than the ball, but that did not stop his adoring public forcing a stadium announcement asking them to return to their seats as they advanced for a closer look.
His planned debut in September was scuppered when Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor injured the 22-year-old in a charity fixture, but the Bessacarr boy survived unscathed on this occasion.
With a world tour already booked, the 22-year-old is unlikely to be back at Rovers any time soon but the day served its primary purpose in raising much-needed funds for the hospice, for which Tomlinson serves as a patron.
Fans paid STG7 ($A13.09) to watch Tomlinson's footballing bow, with all profits going to the hospice.
