Player escort

Player escort (also called match mascot or child mascot) is a child who accompanies a football player entering the pitch. Player escorts hold hands with the footballer while they walk in and stay with the player during the playing of the national anthem. The children are usually between 6 and 18 years old.[1] In addition to assisting players, they often have duties such as carrying flags, helping the sideline ball crew and playing matches with each other.[1]

Player escorts with Poland national team during UEFA Euro 2012

There are various reasons why players walk in with children. These include promoting children's rights campaigns, bringing the element of innocence to the game, fulfilling children's dreams or making profit off it, and reminding players that children are looking up to them.[2]

History

Children have appeared with football players at least since the 1990s either as one mascot for each team or one for every player. These children typically get chosen when they play little leagues and perform outstanding jobs.[2][3]

The UEFA Euro 2000 was one of the first major events where player escorts appeared with every footballer, replacing the previous practice where the players on the team linked arms with each other.[2] In club games children are usually members of youth teams or contest winners.[4] Since 2002, World Cup or European Championship escorts are selected in a competition hosted by McDonald's, sponsor of the event.[5][6]

Being a child mascot may or may not be free. Among FA Premier League clubs, some may charge £350-£600 depending on the fixture while others offer some free places through competitions and charities, and other clubs do not have a charge at all.[7]

On some occasions, there can be special escorts. For example, Ajax Amsterdam players walked out with their mothers on Mother's Day[8] and São Paulo FC players walked out with dogs to raise awareness to stray dogs problem.[9] Some famous players like Wayne Rooney used to be player escorts in their childhood.[3]

References
  1. Kim Bellware (July 14, 2010). "The World Cup Is Over, So Let's Finally Answer All Your Burning Soccer Questions". Huffington Post.
  2. Ivan Anich (October 7, 2015). "Why Do Soccer Players Walk Out With Kids?". The18.
  3. Lorna Hughes (September 10, 2015). "Revealed: The other mascot with Wayne Rooney at 1996 Merseyside Derby". Liverpool Echo.
  4. Felicia Clow (September 21, 2015). "Why Do Football Players Walk Out With Children?". whoareyadesigns.
  5. "The McDonald's Player Escort Programme". FIFA. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016.
  6. "McDonald's Launches Search for UEFA EURO 2016™ Player Escorts". McDonald's. February 29, 2016.
  7. Riach, James (18 December 2014). "Revealed: Premier League clubs charge up to £600 for children to be mascots". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  8. Dan Quarrell (May 10, 2015). "Ajax players walk out with their mums on Mother's Day". Eurosport.
  9. Will Magee (September 30, 2015). "Sao Paulo players accompanied onto pitch by very odd mascots ahead of Palmeiras match". The Mirror.
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