3 GAA students were selected as ball mascots for the recent Manchester United and Tottenham game.
Manchester United’s official digital transformation and shirt sleeve partner, DXC, has teamed up with Manchester United Foundation to inspire and enable young people to become the next generation of leaders.
To celebrate the launch, students from seven Foundation partner schools were invited to attend a digital workshop event at Old Trafford hosted by the Foundation and DXC.
Callum, 12, from Great Academy Ashton enjoyed the event: “We made a Manchester United app, which I really enjoyed. Working with technology is something that I want to do, and I feel that today has made me want to go for that even more.
“Today has shown us all about the opportunities that are out there for young people, and how there will be new jobs in technology over the years. Technology is going to be a big part of our lives and careers and today has shown this.”
In a special moment at the partnership launch event, DXC and Foundation staff awarded students who had been most engaged with the activities the opportunity to be mascots at United’s match against Tottenham Hotspur.
We asked the students some questions after the match.
What was the best bit about being a mascot?
Getting autographs and walking out onto the pitch… We got:
Ronaldo
Rashford
Sancho
Antony
Fred
Malacia
Lindelof
‘Walking out onto the pitch. The fans were so loud we couldn’t hear the music or anything else!’
How did it feel to be selected as a mascot?
‘It feels amazing to be chosen as one of 6 out of 50 people, so not a lot of people, and the fact 3 of us that were selected from the same school and we are all close.’
Additional comments
‘It was a once in a lifetime opportunity’
‘I’m going to frame my autographs’
‘My family saw me on TV and were taking pictures of me!’
‘We were going to leave at 80 minutes to beat the traffic, but my little sister insisted that we stayed and watched the whole match.’
‘When Ronaldo was warming up, he gave us a wave!’