WHEN the England team step onto the pitch for their opening game in Brazil they will be joined by two promising teenagers.

Andrew Gerrard, from Atherton, and best friend Ciaran Burke, from Pennington, will walk ahead of the team when they take on Italy in their FIFA World Cup opener in Manaus on June 14.

The pair were chosen as flag bearers after winning a competition with Coca-Cola Great Britain.

Andrew, aged 14, said: “I’m so excited to be going to the World Cup and getting the chance to walk out ahead of the players. Holding the England flag on the pitch is a huge honour and I know that I’m going to remember it for the rest of my life.”

He won the honour after his dad Stuart, entered him in the competition to find a football mad teenager, and he chose 14-year-old Ciaran to accompany him on the four-day trip.