Leading from the front...

CUP call: Tomos Berry will lead out Latics at Anfield tonight

ATHLETIC’S young mascot doesn’t have to worry about walking alone at Anfield tomorrow night — he will depart the tunnel alongside some of the most accomplished players in the country.

Tomos Berry (12) was drawn out of a hat in a Boundary Blues competition to join skipper Dean Furman in leading the visiting team on to the pitch for the FA Cup third-round tie against Premier League giants Liverpool.

It offers an intriguing insight into life behind the scenes for a boy who makes the 130-mile round-trip from Wrexham to every Athletic home game with dad Andrew, a fellow season-ticket holder.

Andrew said: “He was overjoyed when we broke the news to him. We actually waited a few weeks to tell him, while we made completely sure it was going to happen.

“I grew up supporting Latics but had to move to Wrexham because of my job.

“It is a long drive but I suppose it is an addiction — the first time I took Tomos to Boundary Park he was hooked.”

It’s no secret that Athletic have their work cut out tonight — some bookmakers have them at 20-1 to shock the five-time European Cup winners — but the Berrys can offer them a reason to believe.

Andrew added: “We are predicting a 1-0 win for Latics because that was the score four years ago when we won at Everton — and we were at that match too. Maybe we are the good-luck charms!”