It’s every boy’s dream to lead their country on to the pitch at the World Cup and for one Bradford lad it will tomorrow become a reality.
Matthew Hodges, ten, has won a competition to carry out the FIFA flag at the beginning of England’s game against Slovenia at the World Cup in South Africa.
Matthew, of Pullan Avenue, Eccleshill, has travelled to South Africa with his mum Helen to take part in England’s game at Port Elizabeth.
The Idle Primary School pupil, who is a goalkeeper for Calverley United under-11s, said he was hoping to see his favourite player Joe Hart start for England along with Wayne Rooney.
He said: “I’m looking forward to being at the stadium – I’ve never been to an international match before. I think they are going to win.”
Helen said Matthew had been excited since learning he had won the competition. She said: “Matthew is very excited. He’s going to be helping to carry the FIFA flag on to the pitch before the players go on. He supports England and Leeds and we go to the Leeds games when we can. He’s never seen England before – only on the television.”
Sue Ayre, business manager at Idle CE Primary, said: “We are trying to get the big screen in the hall and all the pupils and staff are going to be in the wall. We are going to see if we can spot Matthew walking the flag out.”
The competition ran on the Sony Ericsson site – sonyericsson. com/ extraman.
The prize was for a child and a parent to spend three nights in South Africa, and for the child to be a flag-bearer.
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