Everton fan's FA Cup guard honour

Nathan will be a guard of honour for the FA Cup at Wembley

A seven-year-old die-hard Everton fan who was resigned to missing out on his club's FA Cup trip to Wembley has been thrown a competition lifeline.

Nathan Tootle, from Liverpool, will be an honour guard for the famous trophy after his keen-eyed godfather entered an online spot the ball competition.

Ryan Woods beat thousands of hopefuls with his entry to secure Nathan the role and tickets to the match.

Mr Woods, said the prize was "better than winning the lottery".

Although Nathan, from West Derby, attends most Everton home games with his family he does not have a season ticket.

It meant he missed out on the chance of a FA Cup final ticket, which he told the BBC left him "sad".

But his godfather's punt in an online competition run by the FA Cup sponsor E.On paid off.

As well as tickets for the final on 30 May, when Everton take on Chelsea, Nathan will accompany the cup onto the pitch.

"The tickets are a good enough prize as it is but for Nathan to go out and do what he's going to do at Wembley is just better than the lottery really, it's unreal," said Mr Woods.