MOST 12-year-old football fans would be happy with watching their local team on a Saturday, but tomorrow Tommy Greenwood is to become the youngest chairman in Football League.

Tommy Greenwood will sit in the hot seat, meet the players and even instruct Oxford United manager Michael Appleton ahead of their clash with Southend United tomorrow.

Tommy’s dad John bid for the role in a charity auction supporting Oxfordshire-based videogame charity Special Effects. Tommy, 12, said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I might pick the team on the day but obviously I’ll let the manager do his job.

“I’ve enjoyed all the media that goes with it. I did BBC Radio Oxford and I was interviewed for the club programme.”

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Tommy, a Year 8 pupil at Wheatley Park School, is due to train with the players later today ahead of the League 2 clash.

Tomorrow he will spend time with United chairman Darryl Eales and the Oxford board, meet head coach Michael Appleton and the players before the game, and then host the directors and guests in the boardroom before watching the game from the directors’ box.

Controversially, Tommy, who lives in Chinnor, does not support Oxford United, but is an avid Hull City fan and is most excited about meeting former Hull boss Phil Brown, who currently manages visitors Southend.

He said: “It’s why I chose the Southend game.

“I can’t wait to meet him, the first manager to lead Hull City into the Premier League in their 104-year history.”

Mr Greenwood, who lives in Chinnor, bid for the item when the father and son pair took on the Twin Town Challenge, a motoring event for charity Special Effects in May 2014.

The charity uses video games to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.

Mr Greenwood said he had paid a “sizeable amount” for the privilege, but he had not even told his family how much.


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