With the World Cup due to kick off shortly, Football Fever comes to the Grays Shopping Centre, Thurrock on Friday, June 1 with their World Cup Mash Up activity.

Between 11.00am and 3.00pm, popular children’s entertainer, Anton Mackman, puts his boots on, gets off the side lines and on to the pitch. 

Dressed as a Football Referee, Anton will entertain children with his ball and flag skills – juggling, balancing and spinning – matching his technical prowess with his sharp wit and comedy banter.

Between 11.30am and 3.30pm, children can also take part in Lucky Dip, Lucky Strip.

Each child will be invited to enter a lucky dip and asked to pull out a card featuring the football strip and flag of one of the thirty two teams participating in the World Cup.

The child will then have the flag of that country painted on their face before they pose holding the football strip card to have their photo taken.

There is a free football whistle for the first 150 children taking part.

All photos taken will be posted on the Centre’s Facebook page in a Footie Facebook album and at the end of the World Cup tournament, children pictured sporting the winning team’s flag and holding a card featuring the strip will win a top of the range football.

“With Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, Formula One and, of course, the World Cup,” says Kris Weeks, Manager of the Grays Shopping Centre.  “We hope our football themed activity will kick start a fantastic Summer of Sport.”