7-year-old Josh Wellman was selected to be mascot for Southampton vs Leeds United Championship match on Saturday 4th May.
Josh, who attends Bowerhill Primary School, proved to be the lucky mascot with Southampton beating Leeds United 2-1 in the final game of the Championship season prior to the end of season play-offs.
Josh’s day began at 4am with a journey to Leeds. He went behind the scenes collecting autographs and photos with all his heroes.
To complete the day, he ran out in front of the Sky Sports cameras and 40,000 fans with the Southampton captain Jack Stephens.
“It’s a day he will never forget!” said his dad, Andy.
“Josh became a Southampton fan just over a year ago when he started playing for Melksham Town Under 7s football team. He then began to enjoy watching football at Melksham Town but he wanted to see football in an even bigger stadium. So, he started going to matches at Southampton with me.
“This season Josh joined a special membership scheme for young supporters called the ‘Saints Club’ which have him the opportunity to be selected out of thousands of other Southampton fans to be a mascot for the team and he was luckily selected for the Leeds United on the final game of the season.”
Josh said, “When I received the news about being the mascot, I was very excited but very nervous at the same time! I couldn’t believe I was going to meet all my heroes especially my favourite player, Flynn Downes. I will never forget this experience for the rest of my life.”
Josh was given a goody bag by Leeds United and then met all the Southampton players as well as getting their autographs.
Josh was watched by his proud dad and grandparents and it meant a lot to them as his dad was a Southampton mascot back in 1995 when he led the team out with club legend Matt Le Tissier.
