TANKERTON FC's under eights will rub shoulders with the millionaire superstars of Chelsea this weekend.

They will act as player-escorts for the big-spending Premiership champions when they meet Liverpool in the Community Shield at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday.

It’s the prize for winning a competition for grassroot teams run by the London Evening Standard in conjunction with McDonalds, after they were nominated by coach Tim Elgar, who read about it on his train journey home from his job as a civil servant.

The youngsters lost every game in the Faversham Friendly League last season conceding 160 goals. But Tim thought the team, including his son Toby, deserved recognition for their enthusiasm, team spirit and determination.

He said: “I was absolutely ecstatic when I got the phone call last week saying we had won.

“We were only formed last year, and it was their first season together, and although they lost every one of their 20 matches they improved immensely.

“We started with 14 players, but lost two or three along the way, leaving a core of 11 who came back every week, rain, hail and shine.

“They are all very determined, really enthusiastic about their football, and everyone is very excited about the trip.”

A party of 23, including children and parents set off by coach, laid on by the sponsors on Saturday morning, and will have a guided tour around the stadium in the afternoon, before staying overnight at the Holiday Inn.

They will then escort the players onto the pitch as part of the pre-match formalities, including including England stars Frank Lampard, John Terry and Joe Cole and new signings, Germany’s Michael Ballack and Ukranian striker Andrei Shevchenko.

Former England and Chelsea star Ray Wilkins visited Swalecliffe last week to hold a special coaching session with the youngsters, another part of the prize

Wilkins, winner of 84 caps, put the boys and girls through their paces at the team’s home ground at Seaview Holiday Village.