Falmouth teenager Jake Merritt was given VIP treatment when he visited Exeter City FC and got the chance to meet first team players.

Jake, 19, was joined by his grandfather, uncle and his cousin, Lewis, and another family which uses Children’s Hospice South West’s Little Bridge House, when they were invited to watch the team put through their paces at their training ground at the Cat and Fiddle.

The sun shone as the families watched the football team train under the stewardship of manager Paul Tisdale, and director of football, Steve Perryman, former English international football and Tottenham Hotspur player.

After the training session, the families enjoyed lunch prepared by club volunteers which was followed by an autograph session.

A delighted Jake was also presented with a pair of football boots signed by Grecian’s striker John O’Flynn and the day concluded with a guided tour of St James’ Park stadium.

Bruce Henderson, Exeter City Football Club business manager, said: “It’s a pleasure to invite the children and their families to our training ground and stadium to be able to offer them a different kind of day.

“We are a community-owned club and events such as these are important to us and are very much a part of what we like to be involved in. We hope the children and their families had a great day.”

The event was organised by Brewin Dolphin, one of the UK’s largest independently-owned private client wealth managers, who have chosen Children’s Hospice South West as their charity of the year.

Naomi Dymond, corporate fundraiser at CHSW, said: “We’re grateful to Brewin Dolphin for arranging this event for some of our children and their families and it was a fantastic day.

“Brewin Dolphin already carry out fundraising for us, but this is really going the extra mile and we are very thankful.

Also to all the wonderful people at Exeter City Football Club who took the time out to make sure it was a great day out for all.”