Last updated at 20:06, Thursday, 19 July 2012

A Cockermouth man is ready to meet some of football’s biggest stars when he volunteers at Newcastle’s St James’ Park as part of the Olympics.

Malcolm Mavin, 50, of Ennerdale Close, was chosen from more than 300,000 people who applied to become a volunteer games maker at the Olympics.

His role will include dealing with the arrivals and departures of the football teams, making sure they are directed to the changing rooms, and to deal with requests from the players and coaches.

Mr Mavin will cover both the men and women’s preliminary games and two quarter-final matches, from Thursday to Saturday, August 4.

He said: “It is a fantastic honour. When I found out I was involved with the players I was gobsmacked.

“It’s something to tell the grandchildren in the future.”

Mr Mavin, a food technology teacher at St Joseph’s School, Workington, has been given his games maker uniform.

The T-shirt, raincoat and hat are coloured a deep purple and poppy red, with the design being a contemporary twist on the British Army’s Grenadier Guards division.

He and about 75,000 other volunteers across the country will get to keep the uniform as a souvenir.

He won’t be covering any of Team GB’s matches but will get to see teams including Brazil, France and Spain.

He is backing Brazil to take the gold medal as he said he thought they had brought a strong squad, which includes superstars Pato, Neymar and Hulk.

First published at 19:20, Thursday, 19 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk