Saffron Walden Town Football Club chairman Melvyn Seymour (right) and player manager Stuart Wardley with the club's shirt.

YOUNG football fanatics have been offered the chance to win an exciting prize which would see them lead out their local team as a mascot on Boxing Day.

Chairman of Saffron Walden Football Club, Melvyn Seymour, has urged youngsters or their parents to tell the club why they should be chosen as the winner of the inaugural Christmas competition.

Anybody aged between eight and 12 is welcome to enter but the club are particularly keen to encourage entries from young people who have overcome adversity in the past year.

“We would like the winner to either be someone who has done something special for somebody, a youngster who has got over a serious illness or someone who just loves football,” Mr Seymour told the Reporter.

“It is all part of our goal to be a community club – Saffron Walden Town Football Club needs Saffron Walden town and I have been grateful for the support of everyone who comes to watch us. We want to make the club something people can be proud of.”

The winner will be the mascot for the local derby game against Braintree Town Reserves at Catons Lane on December 26 and will have their photo taken with captain Alex Riches before kick-off.

They will also be presented with a brand new Saffron Walden FC shirt, have the opportunity to meet the players before the game, be given an extra special Christmas present and receive a football signed by the team.

Not only that, but there is a chance to earn a little wager on the side following a boot inspection – where everyone caught with dirty footwear will have to cough up £1.

Mr Seymour said he hoped the prize would act as a launch pad to get more youngsters involved with the club – from the youth team to ball boys and girls on match days – a scheme backed by the Reporter.

“I want to get youth teams from around the district – not just Saffron Walden – to come along to a first team game for free. Our youth set up is excellent and I believe the youth of Saffron Walden who are playing football today are the team of tomorrow, so we want to make people feel part of the club,” he added.

“We would look to have one team come along at a time and have a kick-around on the pitch with the players beforehand, so I’d ask anybody interested to get in touch with the club – same with any ball boys and ball girls.”

To enter the mascot competition, e-mail your entry to Mr Seymour at melvyn.seymour@swtfc.com detailing why you or your son or daughter should be chosen for the prize.