A SALE schoolgirl has enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime experience of escorting the teams out at this year’s FA Cup Final.

Holly Edgar-Smith, nine, attends Moorlands Junior School in Sale Moor. She won the FA’s Dreams competition after her stepdad Paul entered on her behalf.

She was watched by 90,000 fans at the stadium, as well as millions of TV viewers across the world, as she walked onto the Wembley pitch alongside the Hull City players on the day.

Proud mum Maddy Edgar said: “She was a bit surprised but then really excited when I told her she was going to be on TV. It was the FA who decided who she would be escorting and it was quite apt that it was Hull as her dad's family are from North Humberside.”

Paul, a passionate Manchester City fan, supported her at the event, though he admitted that the experience was strange after witnessing last year’s FA Cup Final heartbreak.

Maddy said: “Holly was so excited to be involved. Someone on the tube actually recognised her from the TV so she felt like a real celebrity for the day.”