WORLD Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst cast his eye over a selection of future England hopefuls as Ross Juniors enjoyed a dream day out at Wembley Stadium.

Ross Juniors under-10s – representing the Herefordshire FA – joined over 700 children from across the country at the McDonald’s National Football Festival – the pinnacle of McDonald’s regional Open Day tour.

The youngsters enjoyed an action-packed day of coaching and mini-tournaments, including expert tuition from Eric Harrison – the former Manchester United Youth Team boss who helped to nurture the careers of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.

And manager Paul Flitney, from Camp Road, Ross-on-Wye, was delighted his side were offered the once in a lifetime opportunity.

“It was a day these kids will never forget and one I won’t either,” he said. “For many of the kids this was the first time they had been to a professional football stadium so this is one of the best days of their lives.

“There are plenty of top players who never get to step out on this pitch, so for these kids to do it was just incredible.

“Everything about the day has been spot on – it was definitely worth getting up at 5 o’clock for.”

The National Festival is all part of the McDonald’s community football programme which involves sponsoring more than 4,500 local football clubs and coaching over one million children Ross Juniors players – who play in the Herefordshire Junior Football League – graced the hallowed Wembley turf just days before Chelsea and Manchester United locked horns in the Community Shield And Hurst is hopeful some of the youngsters on show might be back pulling on an England shirt in the future.

“I was delighted to be involved with a scheme that was able to give the kids the chance to play at Wembley,” said Hurst, who was joined by some of the 13,000 new volunteer community coaches that McDonald’s have helped to create in England over the last six years.

“They’ve had the chance to play at this great stadium and you never know some of them might be back one-day playing professionally.”

McDonald’s is The FA’s Official Community Partner.

For more information on McDonald’s coaching programme, go to www.mcdonalds.co.uk