FOOTBALL mad Matthew Hanson wasthe envy of millions of other children when he took to the pitch at Old Trafford before the Champions League final last night.

Matthew, 13, of Eastham Street, Clitheroe, won a radio competition after he was entered by his sister Natalie, 19, to be one of the young flag bearers to hold up the giant Champions League emblem in the centre circle before the clash between Juventus and AC Milan.

Matthew, a Manchester United fan and Clitheroe Royal Grammar student, said: "I was quite nervous walking out in front of all those spectators but it was great."

Dad Mark said: "Obviously he'd much rather it was Manchester United playing in the final but that wasn't to be."

Matthew spent two days in Manchester rehearsing and said he had been well looked after by UEFA.