TWO teenage football fanatics from Hull have landed a dream trip to Brazil, where they will lead out the England team. Best friends Emily Escreet and Jamie Key will tread in their football heroes' footsteps after being selected to lead out the England team as flagbearers when they take on Italy in the World Cup opener in Manaus, on Saturday, June 14.
Emily, 16, of west Hull, says when her mum entered the competition through website Mumsnet, they did it as a bit of a joke, never dreaming they would win.
She said: "A few days later, I got a phone call while at school from my mum. She was screaming that I'd won.
"I am so excited, it is a dream come true. I think it's fair to say this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"My favourite England player is the captain, Steven Gerrard, and I just hope we get to meet the players."
Coca-Cola Great Britain teamed up Mumsnet to find a football-mad teenager to take to Brazil.
They asked readers to nominate their teenagers and explain why they deserved the chance to carry out the England flag at the World Cup. Emily has played for her local team Pinefleet Wolfreton for eight years as a striker and is looking forward to managing her own under-eights team in the future.
Emily has been a Hull City fan since the age of three. She is also one of the few female referees in the area.
She said: "I started playing football when I was eight years old. I am also doing my coaching badge and I referee boys' football.
"I have always loved football ever since my dad took me to Hull City games when I was little."
The trip to Brazil will be the furthest Emily has ever travelled.
Despite being a modern city, Manaus is deep in the Amazon jungle
Emily said: "I have been to Europe with my family and to America, so I've been quite lucky. But this is definitely the furthest I have been and I'll be without my parents.
"We will be there for five days, so we will be going for a tour of Manaus and on a river trip down the Amazon.
"Hopefully, we will get to experience the culture."
Emily will be accompanied by fellow football fan, family friend and Arsenal fan Jamie Key, 13, of west Hull.
He said: "I am really excited to be going. It didn't seem real at first.
"I play a lot of football at school and with my mates.
"My friends are very jealous and they even thought I was lying at first.
"I am very good friends with Emily and was delighted she chose me to go with her.
"I hope to meet the England players and it would be great to see Daniel Sturridge and Jack Wilshere."
On matchday, Emily and Jamie will perform their special ceremonial role, lining up in the tunnel with the England players, before leading them out on to the pitch and then taking their seats to watch the match.
Emily and Jamie are part of a group of six teenagers who have won the chance to go to Brazil.
Family will be watching at home in Hull
Emily Escreet's mum admits she did not hold much hope when she entered her daughter into the competition.
Michelle, 46, said: "I just entered the competition on Mumsnet on the off-chance.
"I only did it a couple of days before the deadline.
"When I entered we didn't factor in Emily's GCSEs. She will be missing a physics exam but Coca-Cola are writing to the exam board to see if she can be graded based on her predicted result.
"I couldn't believe she had won.
"We weren't sure whether it was maybe a joke or a con at first but it all proved to be very real.
"It's disappointing we can't join her and it's typical the one competition we win and we can't be a part of it.
"But we are delighted for Emily and we will certainly be looking out for her on television when the England v Italy game is on.
"Emily and her dad are huge football fans and they went to Wembley for the FA Cup final last month."
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