A Shropshire boy is celebrating his ninth birthday today – on the ninth of the ninth 2009.

The numerical spook has done little to unnerve Max Gurney, from Lawley Gate, Telford, except to get some teasing from his brothers. The Lawley Primary School pupil today celebrates his last year in single digits but turned down the chance of a birthday party in favour of going to football training.

Mum Alison Gurney said: “The dates are just very unusual. Max doesn’t think there’s anything superstitious about it, the only thing he has got about it is a bit of teasing from his brothers.

“I contacted his school and I wanted them to sing happy birthday to him at nine minutes past nine, but they do not meet in assembly until 9.30am, so his year class are going to do it instead.

“But Max decided he didn’t want a party because his football training was on and that’s always his priority, but we will make the day special for him.”

Max’s teacher, Sam Dorsett, said the class was making sure he remembers this birthday and have plans to make the day special.

“I started on Monday and Max told me about his birthday then so I think he’s been quite excited about it,” he said.

“He came in this morning and told us all that he got a lot of Chelsea things like clothes and a lunchbox and that sort of thing. But this afternoon the 31 of us will sing ‘happy birthday’ to him and I think his mother is bringing in some balloons.

“We are all extremely excited too. I think the children like things with numbers which are a bit unusual and Max was on the radio this morning so that was very exciting for us and him.

“We have been told that you only ever have a birthday like this once in your lifetime, or never at all, so it’s quite special.”

Max isn’t the only one to have his birthday on the ninth day of the ninth month in 2009 as he will be joined by acting stars, Hugh Grant and Adam Sandler.