FOOTBALL-mad youngsters had the chance to show off their new kit when they shared the big stage with some of their heroes.

Leven Whites’ under-nines team, which plays in the Teesside Junior Football Alliance, had the honour of leading out Middlesbrough’s players in their home game with Brentford at the Riverside Stadium.

The youngsters turned out to be lucky mascots too, with Aitor Karanka’s team going on to beat the London side 3-1 in a result which keeps them at the top end of the Championship.

The Whites, who are based just outside of Yarm, have enjoyed a good start to the season, and have extra reason to celebrate having been provided with an eye-catching new kit thanks to Hartlepool-based water treatment specialist Hydrochem.

Hydrochem managing director Bill Abbott sponsors the team, which includes his grandson Freddie as one of the players.

He said: “As is often the case with the local football clubs, they didn’t have a lot of spare cash and were in need of some new kit.

“My daughter Claire mentioned it to me, and I was happy to help them out. They’ve got a good little team, and Freddie and his pals are all big Middlesbrough supporters so they were over the moon to get the opportunity to lead the team out at the Riverside.”

Hydrochem, which is based on Graythorp Industrial Estate in Hartlepool, was set up in 1987 and is the longest serving water treatment company in the North East of England.