A DREAM came true for a Runcorn schoolboy as he walked onto the hallowed turf at Wembley yesterday in front of an 85,000 strong crowd.

It was the experience of a lifetime for 10-year-old Dougie Unsworth as he stood beside goal scorer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the curtain raiser for the new Premier League season.

The match, where Premier League winners Chelsea took on FA Cup holders Arsenal ended in a 1-0 win for the Gunners thanks to a stunning strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Dougie, from Halton Village, won the chance to be a player escort by winning a competition on the McDonald’s Better Play website.

He said: “To walk out onto the Wembley pitch was brilliant.

“Seeing all the fans and hearing the cheers of the crowd made was amazing.

“All of my friends at school are really jealous.”

Sir Geoff Hurst, McDonald’s director of football said: “Walking out at Wembley in front of a large crowd is something I’ve been lucky enough to do a few times now but it still remains an unforgettable experience that I will never forget and I’m sure Dougie won’t either.

“The Community Shield is a game that I always look forward to and it was great to see so many players put in superb performances.”

For further information on McDonald’s involvement in grassroots football visit mcdonalds.co.uk/betterplay