Two young carers from Hackney became the envy of school children across the country when they walked out holding hands with some of the world’s greatest soccer players at Wembley for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland.

Alpay Eren, aged nine, from Lower Clapton and Zach Moses, aged 11, from Stoke Newington were selected as player escorts for the match on June 4 and walked out hand-in-hand with the Swiss national team in front of a sell-out 90,000 crowd.

The boys who are part of Action for Children’s, Hackney Young Carers project - based in Ashwin Street - and whose carer duties both include helping to run the family home, were given the opportunity as part of a partnership between the FA and the charity.

Zach, who has been supported by Hackney Young Carers for the past two and a half years said: “I couldn’t believe it when I heard I was going to go to watch England. None of my friends believed me until they saw me on TV walking out onto the Wembley pitch.”

Hackney Young Carers provide support and advocacy to children and young people who help look after a member of the family who is sick, disabled or has mental health problems or a substance misuse problem.