by Nicola Jordan

Football supporter Daniel Earl’s dearest wish came true when he won a place to be a mascot at a Champions League quarter-final match.

Eight-year-old Daniel, from Walderslade, is a massive Chelsea fan but has never been able to see his beloved team play at Stamford Bridge.

Dad Dave, also an avid Blues supporter, entered his son for a Facebook competition sponsored by MasterCard, to be a mascot at the second leg of Chelsea’s quarter-final against Benfica.

Daniel’s name was one of 22 to be picked out of the hat.

It proved to be a night to remember as Daniel, a pupil at Maundene Primary School in Walderslade, met the teams in the tunnel and was high-fived by all the Chelsea players, including Frank Lampard, Fernando Torres and his number one favourite, John Terry.

Daniel walked on to the pitch with the Portuguese team watched by 45,000 spectators in the stadium and millions of television viewers.

Daniel, who lives in Princes Avenue, is a keen footballer and plays for Rainham Eagles, a team his mum Julie Jennings manages.

Mrs Jennings said: “They call him John Terry on the pitch. Daniel has always longed to go and see Chelsea. He’s been to see the Gills and Crystal Palace, but we simply couldn’t afford the tickets to Stamford Bridge.”

“After walking out with the teams, he returned to sit with us. He had the biggest smile on his face and told us it was the best day of his life.”

It got even better when Chelsea won 2-1 to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory and a place in the semi-finals against reigning champions Barcelona tomorrow.

Julie said: “It was a moment I wanted to share with Daniel. It was a day none of us will forget.

“When we got home we had messages from friends in the USA who had seen on Daniel on TV.”