Schoolboy's England dream comes true

DREAMS will come true for a Rendlesham schoolboy on Wednesday night as he shares the pitch with his footballing heroes.

As everybody scrambles to get their hands on the hottest ticket in town, 11-year-old Craig Jackson can rest assured that he will have the best view in the house as he will be one of eight flag bearers for the England team as they take on Croatia at Portman Road.

Along with three other boys and four girls, Craig, of Suffolk Drive, will carry an England flag on to the pitch and stand with the players during the national anthem.

Before the game he will get to rub shoulders with the team in the changing rooms and, no doubt, find several signatures to fill up his autograph book.

He will then be kitted out with a brand new England strip which he will get to keep after the game.

An avid Ipswich Town fan, Craig has just left Eyke primary school, where he played football for the school team.

He says he is "nervous and excited" about the prospect of being watched by millions of people across the country, and can not wait to meet his England idols.

He said: "I'm not really looking forward to seeing any one player in particular, I just want to see the whole team! "I've known about it for more than a month now and am so excited.

"All my friends are really excited for me too and can't stop talking about it."

Craig was chosen for the sought-after role when he attended coaching sessions held by Ipswich Town at the Rendlesham sports centre.

His mum Dawn, who will be accompanying him to the game, said: "We just couldn't believe it when we got a phone call from Ipswich Town telling us that he had been chosen.

"I don't think it really sunk in at first, and I still don't think Craig has really realised what a big thing it is, but now the big day's getting nearer we are both getting more and more excited.

"He absolutely loves his football and I am going to feel so proud seeing him out there on the pitch."