Winners' joy after being chosen for important roles at Grimsby Town's Wembley final

ANDREW and Emma Hill are keeping Grimsby Town’s cup final clash a family affair.

The siblings both have important roles to perform at Wembley – after they were chosen to be a flag bearer and a player escort respectively.

Grimsby Town’s game will be a capital day out for all of the Hill family, of Roberts Street, Grimsby, as parents Amanda and Mark are taking their children to Trafalgar Square on Saturday at 3.30pm for the Grimsby Telegraph supporters photocall.

Andrew was delighted to be chosen as a flag bearer, when his name was picked out of a hat at half-time on Saturday at Blundell Park.

And when Emma – who celebrates her 10th birthday tomorrow – discovered she will be a player escort, walking onto the pitch, she was overjoyed.

She was chosen thanks to a competition run by Grimsby Town FC in conjunction with the Grimsby Telegraph. Emma, of Barcroft Junior School, said: “When I found out I was going, I went wild.

“After the disappointment of not being a flag bearer, I was overjoyed at being a player escort. I don’t mind who it is I go on to the pitch with; it is a wonderful honour.

“If I were to pick anyone though, it would be Ross Hannah because he is a really good striker. “

Andrew, 12, of Havelock Academy, added: “I have been buzzing ever since they called out my name on Saturday. I am really looking forward to it.

“We are really excited. I wasn’t expecting to have my name called out at the game. I can’t wait to get my track suit to wear on the day.”

He predicted that Grimsby Town will win the final with a score of 2-1.

Dad Mark, 45, said: “It is great news. After the disappointment of not being chosen she was delighted to win the competition in the Grimsby Telegraph.

“I have been to Wembley three times before and Andrew came with me in 2008, but it is a first time for Emma watching football being played.

“She has been on the Wembley tour but not seen a match.

“Although they have not been getting the results, we are taking hope from the 1998 visit when the team won despite having not won the previous five games.

“I have followed Grimsby Town since I was eight. I love the club and I know we will rise to the occasion.”

Amanda, 38, added: “We are going to enjoy the atmosphere and will be very proud to watch them both walking out onto the pitch.”

---

We want YOUR messages for our mighty Mariners!

IT’S not long until the big day for GTFC, and there are plenty of ways to get involved.

We want to hear your messages for our boys. Send your messages of support to newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk or log onto www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk and click on the Wembley articles we are uploading every day.

If you’re on Twitter and would like to send a message, simply tag it to @thisisgrimsby and we will pick it up.

And on the day itself, we want all you social networkers out there to tweet using the hashtag #gtfcwembley

We will pick all the messages up and show just how much Grimsby is backing its boys!

Not only will you find coverage every day in both the news and sport sections of the paper (just look out for the Wembley logo), there is lots going on at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk too

Get ticket updates day-by-day, exclusive interviews and videos, and Century Club updates.

We have a team of reporters and photographers descending on London for the weekend to give you the best coverage around, both in the Telegraph and online.

Expect 12 pages of Wembley reaction on Monday – and get involved!