A BOY from Tavistock will walk out onto the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium as one of the matchday mascots for this Saturday’s FA Cup Final.

Sam Hunter, aged ten, will walk on with one of Manchester United’s players for the season-ending showpiece between United and Crystal Palace. Football-mad Sam, who plays for Horrabridge Rangers and goes to Mary Tavy Primary School, was lucky enough to win a competition to be a matchday mascot his dad Jim entered him for after seeing an entry form online.

Sam will go up to Wembley on Friday to meet some of Manchester United’s legendary former players before a guided tour of the stadium and a rehearsal of his duties as a matchday mascot. That day he will also do some filming for the Football Association ahead of the big match.

Sam’s mum Vicky Hunter said that his favourite United players are superstar goalkeeper David De Gea and Spanish attacking midfielder Juan Mata. She said: ‘Sam is massively into football as so many kids are at his age. We just got an email saying he had won and we’ve been checking it out. Transport and the hotel is paid for, and Sam and my husband Jim will watch the game from the stands. He likes Manchester United but he is actually a massive Hull City fan! It is all very exciting and Sam can’t wait.’

Sam will walk out with one of the Manchester United players looking to win the club’s 12th FA Cup. The last time United won the trophy was in 2003-04. For Crystal Palace, it is only the second time they have ever reached the final in their 111-year history. They famously finished as runners-up in 1990 against this weekend’s opponents Manchester United in a final replay after drawing the first match 3-3.