January
Shoot To Win Competition Winner!
13 Oct 2008
Lucky reader Matthew Cottrell, aged 9, from Birmingham, walked out on to the pitch with Wayne Rooney in front of 90,000 people at Wembley for the World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan.
Thanks to Nationwide and the Jamie Johnson football books by Dan Freedman, we ran a competition last summer offering the chance to be mascot at a football World Cup 2010 Qualifier, and Matthew had his name pulled out of the hat.
Matthew is a Liverpool fan and plays for Maypole Football Club in Birmingham. He was cheered on from the stand by his family, and was seen by millions of people as the game was live on TV.
“It was really good – I even went to bed in my football kit!“, said Matthew after the game.
He’s become something of a celebrity, too – he was in the local newspaper, on the radio before the game, and was even recognised on the train on the way to the match!
He was obviously a lucky charm – England won the game 5-1, with Rooney scoring two of the goals!
Well done Matthew, we hope you enjoyed your day!
Pictures courtesy of Paul Walker
(Matthew’s the one in front of Wayne Rooney)
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