A DREAM will come true for young Arsenal fan Liam Maden tomorrow (Saturday) when he leads his heroes out onto the pitch at Carlisle's Brunton Park in front of almost 15,000 cheering fans.

Liam, nine, was chosen to be Arsenal's mascot at their sell-out FA Cup third round match against Carlisle United, which kicks off at 3pm, reports Rachel Kitchen.

A registered Gunners supporter since he was two, Liam was "over the moon" to receive a letter from the club just days before Christmas.

Dad Tony told the Gazette: "I was in the kitchen, making a drink.

He came in and said, 'Dad, I've got a letter from Arsenal saying they want me to be a mascot at Carlisle.' I think I was more excited than he was!"

Surrey-born Mr Maden is an Arsenal fan, and supporting the north London side was a "family tradition" Liam was happy to follow "as soon as he could talk."

He saves his birthday and Christmas money to buy team shirts and, according to his dad "his bedroom is like an Arsenal souvenir shop."

Mascots are picked at random from the Young Gunners supporters' club, which Liam joined when he was two.

The Milnthorpe Primary School youngster - who plays for Milnthorpe and District Junior FC under 10s - will be accompanied to Brunton Park by his parents Tony and Heather, grandad and uncle.

Arriving around 1.30pm, Liam will be taken into the changing rooms to meet the squad, and have autographs signed by players like his favourite, Swedish mid-fielder Freddie Ljungberg.

Dressed in Arsenal kit and carrying a pennant, he will lead the team out to the centre circle before a capacity crowd - the match sold out within a week of tickets going on sale.

Liam will be invited to the goal mouth to take some shots at the goalkeeper - likely to be Alex Manninger, as David Seaman is injured - before being introduced to the referee and linesmen by Gunners captain Tony Adams.

"He will be gobsmacked," said Liam's dad.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance."

As Third Division Carlisle Utd's press and media officer Steve Trafford explained, the teams' last meeting at Brunton Park was in 1974, when Carlisle won 2-1.

"It's a great occasion as Arsenal are the second biggest team in English football of recent times, probably next to Manchester Utd," said Mr Trafford.

"The town's buzzing, and it gives the football club a chance to get away from their league woes."