A YOUNG football fan from St Albans will kick off his weekend as the mascot for his favourite Premiership team. Benjamin Robinson, aged seven, will be running on to the pitch with the Sunderland FC team at this Saturday s North-East derby game against N

A YOUNG football fan from St Albans will kick off his weekend as the mascot for his favourite Premiership team.

Benjamin Robinson, aged seven, will be running on to the pitch with the Sunderland FC team at this Saturday's North-East derby game against Newcastle. The Oakwood School pupil, whose family home is in Colney Heath Lane, was picked at random for the prize by the football team's junior supporters club.

Benjamin's family are all big Sunderland FC supporters and his mother Rebecca said that the Robinsons can't wait for the home game.

She added: "We go to all the London matches, but Saturday will be something special. Benjamin's elder sister Abbie, younger brother William and his season-ticket-holder grandparents will all be there to watch Benjamin's star performance."

The supporters club has prepared a programme of events for Benjamin including a meeting with manager Roy Keane and ex-player and chairman Niall Quinn, as well as a warm-up session with the whole Sunderland FC team.

Benjamin, who plays for Harvester FC under-eights north team, said he was very excited about the game which starts at 12.45pm. He added: "One of my lifelong dreams has come true and I'm only seven!