A YOUNG football fan is to kick the new year off in style when she leads York City out on to the pitch for their home match with Morecambe.

Isabelle Benson, six, a pupil at Headlands Primary School, Haxby, was selected to be the club’s mascot on New Year’s Day after winning a schools’ competition run by City and club sponsors benenden health.

As well as leading out the team, Isabelle will get to meet the players, and has been given her own City kit.

Isabelle told competition organisers her favourite player was Ryan Jarvis, but she was very much looking forward to meeting the entire team.

Nicola Taylor, communications co-ordinator at benenden, said: “We hope Isabelle will have a fantastic experience leading the York City players out. It’s sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience she won’t forget.”

•The competition to find a mascot closed at the beginning of the month despite a piece in The Press on Monday suggesting it remained open to entrants. We apologise for the confusion.