Selkirk schoolboy starred at Wembley

Published 10 Aug 2010 14:55 0 Comments

A TEN-YEAR-OLD boy from the Borders lived every schoolboys dream when he led out his heroes at the annual curtain raiser to the new football season at the weekend.

Chelsea fan Ryan Cottrell, of Shawpark Crescent, Selkirk, won a national competition to escort his team onto the pitch as they line-up to play Manchester United in the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday.

He also met England World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst for a special pre-match breakfast before the big game.

However, despite his team losing 3-1, the Knowepark Primary School pupil, who was supported from the stand by his mum Susan, dad Dave, and big sister Caitlin - a Manchester United fan - he admitted it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph ahead of the match this week, Ryan, who is pictured with Chelsea superstar Nicholas Anelka, said: "I've had such an amazing time and I can't believe I walked out on to the pitch at Wembley with my heroes. The whole weekend was very special and I can't wait to tell all of my friends about it."

The Player Escort Programme is part of McDonald's Football in the Community Programme. As The FA's Community Partner since 2002, McDonald's has helped to create more football for all by training and recruiting over 20,000 qualified football coaches, offering two million hours of free, quality football to young players across the UK.

Over the next four years, it will continue its work with The FA which aims to help coaches play an even greater role in their local communities through the FA Charter Standard League programme to ultimately improve standards at grassroots level.

The partnership will also support 400,000 volunteers, 6,000 grassroots clubs and create a total of 30,000 qualified coaches by 2014.

Ryan's mum Susan, who entered her son in the competition, said: "I saw it in a Sunday magazine and entered but never thought any more of it." But she added: "You never really hear of local kids winning competitions like this."

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