Jenna Evans, who plays football for Ross Junior Girls, had a taste of professional football when she escorted Captain of Hereford FC, Joel Edwards onto the pitch at Wembley.

Eight-year-old Jenna was the Lead Player Escort on Sunday, May 22nd when Hereford FC took on Morpeth Town in the FA Vase Final.

The Ashfield Park Primary School pupil has been attending Hereford FC games regularly this season, with her Dad, Kevin. She won the chance to be a Player Escort by entering a competition run by Hereford FC Junior Bulls, of which she is a member.

Jenna’s parents and sisters all went to London to see the match, they had originally booked to travel by coach with friends and parents from Ross Juniors. Due to the time Jenna had to be at Wembley they had to change their plans and book a hotel. They were not able to share the morning with her but watched proudly from the stands.

Kevin told the Ross Gazette:?“As you can imagine, as a family we were extremely proud of Jenna and the way she stood on the pitch with her head up high. It is the first and only team Jenna has supported, so to walk out with her club’s Captain was so special.

“Jenna is fairly quiet and for her to walk out the way she did, in front of so many people, did bring a tear to my eye.”

This was not the first time Jenna has appeared at Wembley, she was among the Ross Junior Girls at Wembley for the Ladies FA Cup Final Parade the week before. But attention was more focused on Jenna when she appeared on the pitch for the FA Vase Final. Jenna told the Ross Gazette that she was thrilled to win the competition and very excited although she was a little nervous as the moment to walk out onto the pitch approached.

Jenna met all the other Player Escorts, early on Sunday morning, took part in a rehearsal, walking out of the tunnel and onto the pitch in the empty stadium, and then stopped for an early lunch. Jenna said that she felt like a proper footballer when she was dressed in her very own Hereford FC Kit provided by the FA.

There was time for official pictures to be taken pitch-side with the other Player Escorts. Then finally they lined up inside the tunnel and waited for the players to join them before walking out onto the pitch.

Jenna said that it was very busy, and noisy, in the tunnel with photographers and TV cameras. She talked to Joel Edwards when he came out the dressing room before walking out.

She said:?“It was really exciting when we walked out and the crowd was really loud.”

Kevin said:?“Jenna was disappointed because Hereford lost, but she still had a had a really fun and memorable day.”