On 5th March, eleven lucky students from Ladybridge High School and Essa Academy in Bolton attended the UEFA Champions League Manchester United versus Real Madrid game at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Enterprise Challenge Mentor for Ladybridge High School, Salma Mogradia, won the tickets for the game in a competition courtesy of Ford, Official Sponsor of the UEFA Champions League. The competition offered football coaches, teachers and other youth leaders the chance to win an unforgettable experience for their class or team.

Speaking of the prize, Salma said: “Having mentored for Mosaic for the last few years, I have always been on the look-out for opportunities for young people. With that in mind, when I saw that the Daily Star Newspaper were running a competition, which would allow ‘our’ young people the chance to wave the Starball Banner on the pitch at Old Trafford moments before Manchester United FC take on Real Madrid CF in the UEFA Champions League, I could not resist but enter the competition. After all being a Mosaic Mentor for me, is all about giving back to the community and creating opportunities for young people of all backgrounds growing up in our most deprived communities.”

The prize was for eleven students between the ages of 14-16 to wave the Starball Banner on the pitch at Old Trafford moments before the pivotal UEFA Champions League game kicked off. The students also received match tickets and watched the game once the Starball Banner ceremony had finished. Travel to and from the stadium was also included in the prize.

Regional Manager for the North West Nafisa Hakim commented after the event: “For these students to experience being on the pitch, moments before kick off, is simply priceless. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we are grateful for our mentors to present the students with such an opportunity! Not only did walking onto the football pitch help with their confidence but it increased their attitude towards ‘anything is possible!'”

Listen to the students from Essa Academy being interviewed by Talat Awan from BBC Radio Manchester