Northern Ireland v USA

THE VIRTUAL MASCOTS FOR TODAY’S INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE MATCH BETWEEN NORTHERN IRELAND AND USA HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. There’s a recurring theme in the testimonials – that all of our mascots have been missing football, while some have been finding the going tough during the Covid lockdown. The mascots are all listed here along with comments from their nominators on why they deserve to be virtual mascots. Bella Cochrane (10) from Cregagh in Belfast: “Bella loves to go and support Northern Ireland when they are at home.” Seven-year-old Jack Ferguson from Ahoghill: “Jack misses the Northern Ireland matches where he loves shouting ‘Green and White Army’, especially to his favourite player Kyle Lafferty.” Waringstown girl Madison Magee , aged nine, loves football: “She plays for Lurgan Town Girls Academy. She supports Northern Ireland. Madison would be privileged to do mascot.” Oli Robinson (seven) from Portadown: “He loves the GAWA and this would make him so proud.” Katie McCormick, aged 12, from Newtownards: “Katie plays for Crusaders and County Antrim. She has really been missing football and finding it tough without it.” Luke Brankin from Ballinderry Upper: “Luke is an only child, living out in the country, and is finding things difficult at the moment as he can't go to school or have his friends round to play. He is football mad. Northern Ireland, Spurs and Coleraine are his favourites. Mum and dad are working full time from home and Luke is home schooling so it’s not much fun for an active nine-year-old. A wee surprise would be great to lift his wee mind just now. He gets upset, as all kids do, and just wants things to be normal again.” Mea Foster (Ballyclare) is a 10-year-old who loves her football: “She plays for two teams, Crusaders and Rangers. (Before lockdown) Mea was out five times a week doing what she loves, training and playing matches with her team-mates. When she has not got a ball at her feet she is watching football. Covid has had a massive impact on her this time - no football, no seeing mates, no training. Being a mascot would be a dream come true alongside her ambition to play for Northern Ireland herself one day.” Six-year-old Ellie Wilson from Cookstown is a keen Northern Ireland supporter: “She is itching to get to Windsor to watch her first Northern Ireland match.” Katie Critchley (Ballynure, aged 8) has found the repeated lockdowns hard: “She can't go to her usual sports and clubs. Being a virtual mascot would help cheer her up.” Her brother Alfie (10) is a massive Northern Ireland fan who has missed going to the family’s seats in the East Stand for every home match: “He is busting to get back to his own training and also to Windsor with the rest of the GAWA.” Ten-year-old Charlie Ross from Belfast is also an avid Northern Ireland fan: “He plays for a local team and is a huge Steven Davis fan. He is missing playing football and not getting to see Northern Ireland play.”

59

www.irishfa.com