The FA Community Shield on Sunday 10th August between Arsenal and Manchester City saw the Bradley Stoke Youth FC (BSYFC) Girls parade around Wembley pitch before kick off.
This opportunity of a lifetime was enabled by the close links between Bradley Stoke Youth FC and McDonald’s, who sponsor the FA Community Shield.
Just ten clubs from the UK and Ireland were allowed to take part in the parade and the Bristol area of McDonald’s selected Bradley Stoke Youth FC to represent this region, in recognition of all of the community work we undertake.
In discussions with McDonald’s, it was decided that this [2014/15] season’s U13 Girls team would get the honour of representing the club at the event.
The girls paraded around the Wembley pitch with their managers, Martin and Ross Lee, and Jim Murdoch, the McDonald’s representative.
The club’s logo, on the banner and flags we carried, was on full show to the 72,000 crowd as the girls paraded around the pitch.
The squad had full access to the media suite at the stadium, where after the match the players and managers of Arsenal and Man City gave their interviews. But we had already sat in the chairs and used the microphones to give our own interviews!
Well done to the BSYFC girls who were praised by the Wembley staff for their great attitude, team spirit and their smiling faces on the walk around.
The Bradley Stoke Youth FC name was on full show around the pitch side boards and the girls’ walk-around was screened on the large stadium displays.
Another great day in the history of the club – let’s hope there are many more.
Photo: Parading round the Wembley pitch prior to kick-off.
Photo: Giving interviews in the Wembley media suite.
This article originally appeared in the September 2014 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,450 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
