FRIENDS and neighbours decorated the front of a youngster's house to wish him luck in Portugal.

While eight-year-old Jordan Belston won't be joining England's Euro 2004 squad on the pitch, he will be there to lead out the team for their opening game.

His pals gathered outside his home in Penrith Avenue, Whitefield, and attached flags and banners saying "C u on TV" underneath the front window and along the garden wall.

Last December, Jordan, who plays for Bury FC Juniors at Gigg Lane, fractured his collarbone, and then two months later broke his arm.

His coach, Jason Nicholas, was so impressed with the positive attitude shown by the youngster that he nominated him for a competition to lead the England team on to the pitch before their opening game against France this Sunday (June 13).

Jordan was picked by the sponsors, McDonalds, to join ten other youngsters in Portugal.

Jordan will be flying out today with his father, Paul, who says it has still not sunk in that they will be watching the game.

He said: "We were so excited that Jordan will be leading one of the players out onto the pitch that we had forgotten that we would actually be watching England's first game.

"At the moment Jordan is a bit nervous about it but very excited. It's a dream come true for him."