Match of the day

Photo: Darren Robinson

FOUND! Freddie Hulley with manager Darren Kelly in the dugout yesterday.

THE search to find a young Latics fan desperate to be a match-day mascot came to a happy ending yesterday.

Through social media, Oldham Athletic officials managed to find Freddie — Royton boy Freddie Hulley — after he sent a letter to the club pleading to be mascot but failed to give his name or address.

Shared over 1,000 times on Facebook and retweeted more than 100 times on Twitter, the seven year old’s story touched supporters across the country.

Freddie’s mum, Lois Tennant (32), said: “I love that the club tried to find him and had the consideration to do that. Other clubs would have just put the letter in the bin. It will be a lifelong memory for him.”

The youngster, who attends Blackshaw Lane Primary School, sported the new Latics kit as he had a kick-about on the hallowed SportsDirect.com Park turf and chatted with manager Darren Kelly in the dugout.

The only person more ecstatic than Freddie was dad Paul, who has been a Latics fans since he was four.

Paul (33), said: “He’s really made up. Hopefully he’ll be playing for us one day!”

And Freddie, who plays for Heyside Under-8s, is in for a treat: his birthday weekend coincides with Latics’ match against Scunthorpe on October 10 - and he’ll be mascot for the day.

Wendy Noble, operations manager at Oldham Athletic Community Trust, said: “The letter stood out because he wrote it himself. There were no contact details so we to find Freddie! .”