?WE?RE on our way to Wembley? - that?s what the boys of Horrabridge Rangers U9s will no doubt be singing this week after a surprise invitation to pay a visit to the new home of England?s national team. The boys have been invited to the brand new £798 million stadium by the Football Association to represent Devon and take part in the FA McDonald?s Mini-Soccer Festival 2007 on August 6. The boys will also be able to do something that even most of Plymouth Argyle professionals are only likely to dream about - playing at least one game on the Wembley pitch. They will play three games at the nearby Northwick Park where there will be coaching areas for the players to learn new skills led by the FA Learning/McDonald?s Grassroots coach of the year, and Eric Harrison, the ex-Manchester United youth team coach, who guided David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes to stardom. The squad of 13 boys, along with their parents, U9 and U10s manager Ian Burke, Horrabridge Rangers? organiser Ian Cuthbert and chairman Rob Mitchelmore, will then go to Wembley, and they are really looking forward to the experience. Ian Burke added that one valuable member of the team who will not be there on the big day will be Pete Green, who assists the manager with the boys? coaching. Ian said: ?Pete cannot be with us at Wembley but we will all be thinking of him and wish him recovery in his fight against leukaemia.? After the tournament the boys will be invited to walk up to the famous Royal Box and collect their festival medals from the FA guest of honour. They will also receive a goodie bag from sponsors McDonalds. Manager Ian Burke explained how the opportunity arose for the Wrigley?s Devon Junior Minor League team. He said: ?Back in April we entered a tournament run by the Devon FA for FA Charter Football Clubs, in Newquay. The team worked very hard and had a really enjoyable day. However, from our appearance at that competition we have just been informed that we have been nominated by the Devon FA to represent the county at the mini-soccer festival at Wembley Stadium. ?This is a fantastic opportunity for the boys and I can?t explain how thrilled and proud I am for them to be nominated to represent the county. The young boys have performed really well throughout the season and I am very proud of them.? Ian appealed to local businesses to help sponsor the trip - no matter how small the donation. He can be contacted on 01822 853259. l Pictured above are Horrabridge Rangers U9s (in the front two rows), their coaches and other football mad boys at their training session. Picture: James Bird
