A YOUNG stage school pupil has been cast as the face of a new McDonald's campaign supporting grassroots football for children across the UK.

Nine-year-old Daisy Cooper-Kelly, from Glazebury, sported England colours and played football alongside stars Jordan Pickford and Nikita Parris at a filming day in London last week.

Her role in the campaign saw her taking part in football training, completing drills and taking part in the wheelie bin challenge and penalties with the football professionals.

The youngster, who is represented by Ology Kids Casting and attends Little Stars Stage School in Appleton and Hayward Dance Academy, was selected through her agent to get involved with project launched by McDonald's.

The fast-food chain announced its continued long-term commitment to improving the standard of grassroots football in the UK with the renewal of its partnership with the four home nations Football Associations for a further four years.

Having worked closely with all four UK FAs over the past 16 years, McDonald’s is the longest-standing supporter of grassroots football in the UK.

Building on the huge growth of grassroots football over the past decade and a half, the next four years will see the introduction of a new, participation-based programme aiming to provide five million hours of fun football for children across the UK by 2022.

Through "turn up and play" coaching sessions and more community football days than ever before, McDonald’s will provide more than 500,000 children the opportunity to try football for the first time.

The wider focus of the programme will remain to support accredited grassroots clubs and their volunteers, helping to raise the standards of grassroots football across the UK and improving the grassroots experience for young, aspiring footballers.

McDonald’s football ambassador, Everton goalkeeper and England international Jordan Pickford, said: “Growing up, I was lucky enough to benefit first-hand from McDonald’s support for grassroots clubs and their volunteers, so it’s exciting for me to help them announce the renewal of this partnership.

"It’s really important that clubs all over the UK get the support they need but also that we continue to attract young, new players to the sport so we can continue to develop talent.”

Daisy, who attends Green Meadow Independent Primary School in Lowton, will be seen on the promotional material publicising the campaign, as well as the short film that was shot on the day.

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