11 Mar 2008

Jessica Dagley, aged eight, has painted the way to Wembley with a colourful football boot design, which beat off entries from hundreds of other pupils at schools in Swansea, Morecambe and Grimsby.

Johnstone’s Paints asked Akeley Wood Junior School to get creative with colour by inviting pupils to get stuck into some felt tip pens and crayons.

And Jessica’s stunning design, featuring football pitch, fans and players, came out on top, after being judged by a panel of Johnstone’s Paint Trophy judges.

She will now win a pair of football boots for her efforts and her school will receive 100 miniature footballs.

The inaugural football boot-of-the-future competition was launched to coincide with MK Dons’ progression into the area finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, before they beat Swansea to progress to Wembley on March 30.

Head teacher Mrs Hayes said: “The pupils had a great time designing their boots. The competition really captured their imagination and we are sure that their creations will make a lasting impression.

“We are all delighted for Jessica and we are keeping our fingers crossed that her design will prove to be lucky and MK Dons will now lift the silverware.”

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy sponsorship manager Teresa Hardwick said: “We would like to praise the pupils at Akeley Wood Junior School and congratulate them for their efforts.

“There were so many amazing entries and it was a shame that we could only pick one. We also launched the competition with schools in Grimsby, Morecambe, and Swansea – whose local teams also made it to the last four of the competition.

“This is the first time we have organised a competition like this, and it’s safe to say we will look to do another, and that is down to the pupils’ enthusiasm.

“We wanted to add some colour ahead of the final and the pupils have certainly done that for us.”

Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.