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Bereaved Cambridgeshire family left 'speechless' after Wembley ticket win

Kieran Chatten Emilia, 13, and Jakub, 8, holding Peterborough United scarvesKieran Chatten
The Posh & Free Kicks Foundation Ticket Fund was set up to buy tickets for fans who may struggle to attend

A father has thanked Peterborough United fans for giving his children the opportunity to see a Wembley final.

Posh will play Wycombe Wanderers in the English Football League (EFL) Trophy Final on Sunday.

Over £5,000 was raised to give some fans the chance to watch their side.

Kieran Chatten's mother died three years ago on Tuesday, on his son's sixth birthday. He hoped going to the match would turn a day "so awfully sad [into] many memories of joy".

Kieran Chatten Kieran Chatten at the Posh groundsKieran Chatten
Kieran Chatten said the match would be something positive his children could remember for "the rest of their lives"

The 39-year-old from March, Cambridgeshire, noticed a Facebook post about the Free Kicks Foundation, a charity which provides football-related activities for children who are unwell or have experienced hardship or bereavement.

"I lost my mum... on my son's sixth birthday," he told the BBC. "Two days later my father, who was a huge Posh supporter, also died.

"I had to break that news to my children, and I am so proud of their resilience, so I put my hat in the ring but didn't expect to hear anything back."

Kieran Chatten Emilia, 13, and Jakub, 8, hugging each otherKieran Chatten
Emilia, 13, and Jakub, 8, did not believe their dad when he told them where they were going

When he told his children Emilia, 13, and Jakub, 8, that they had won VIP tickets in Club Wembley, he said they were "speechless and thought I was joking, they didn't know people could be so kind".

He added: "I can't thank people enough. They don't realise how special the gesture has been and this is something my children will talk about when they go back to school and potentially for the rest of their life."

Through the fund 110 Peterborough fans will go to Wembley, 96 of these have free coach travel included.

Getty Images Peterborough fans watching their team against Lincoln CityGetty Images
Peterborough United have sold more than 22,600 tickets for the Bristol Street Motors Trophy Final

The Free Kicks Foundation selected nominees for VIP tickets in Club Wembley and an executive box.

Steve Thorpe, the founder and trustee of the Free Kicks Foundation, said: "The foundation bought four tickets but the Posh fans donated or bought extra tickets so more people could go.

"It escalated and £5,000 was raised within a week, which was remarkable."

Peterborough United Right to left: Steve Thorpe, Dawn Gore, Jakub Chatten, Hector Kyprianou, Emilia Chatten, Kieran Chatten, and Clive EdwardsPeterborough United
Emilia, Kieran and Jakub met a player, the CEO, media and marketing manager, and the Free Kicks Foundation founder

Clive Edwards, the head of media and marketing at Peterborough United, said the support showed the commitment to making a "family orientated, inclusive football club".

Mr Edwards said: "When Free Kicks Foundation approached us about this idea, we were very excited to be able to support the initiative.

"It has been a fantastic effort by all our supporters to either contribute financially or spread the word about the fund.

"We couldn't have raised such a fantastic amount and given so many people the chance to visit the national stadium without our supporters truly getting behind the idea."

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