IT WILL be the proudest moment of his life.

Southampton teenager Lee Cook has been picked to lead the England team out when they take on Macedonia at St Mary's.

Lee is one of eight Southampton youngsters chosen to be a flag bearer on Wednesday night for the European Championships 2004 qualifying game.

When tickets for the game were released, Saints season ticket holder Lee, 15, tried in vain for four-and-a-half hours on the telephone to get hold of one.

Lee, a pupil at Bitterne Park Secondary School, said: "I was really disappointed not to get a ticket but then I was offered the chance to be one of the flag bearers so I can get to see the game anyway.

"I'm really looking forward to it. In particular, I want to meet Wayne Bridge.

"My biggest hope for the day is that Wayne Bridge plays. It's going to be a really proud moment."

The youngsters were given the opportunity to be a flag bearer as a reward for their hard work with Caroline McVicar who organises Southampton Football Club's community projects.

She said: "The Football Association approached me to find eight flag bearers. I chose these eight because over the last few seasons they've helped me so much.

"They give up their weekends and work with me for free, supervising the children at the games and helping in community projects such as litter picking.

"This is my way of saying thank you."

The seven other youngsters chosen to be flag bearers are Hamble Secondary School pupils Ben Hewlett, Matthew Tulip, Oliver Davidson, Tom Forbes, Luke Hewlett and Sholing Girls School students Jennifer Horne and Bethany Tulip.

Lee's father and cousin will be cheering him on from the stands.

Lee, of Chartwell Green, West End, said: "My cousin has been ill recently so hopefully this will make him feel a lot better."

Fellow pupils at Bitterne Park Secondary school will also be there to support Lee. Bitterne Park was one of the first schools to reply to Southampton Football Club's invitation for tickets.

Head teacher Susan Trigger said: "We could have sold our ticket allocation a hundred times over so I can understand why some children were disappointed.

"We offered the tickets to those boys and girls who play in the school's football teams first.

"We are organising a school trip to the game. As a school we often go down to support the club.

"As for a prediction, we left that up to Lee. He said: 'England are going to win 3-nil'."