Schoolboy Spencer Turner will meet HRH The Duke of Cambridge on Friday at the unveiling of a special First World War memorial to the Christmas Truce story.
But it was at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire last month that the ten-year-old received a unexpected visit from England boss Roy Hodgson and a group of Three Lions stars.
Spencer, from Farne Primary in Newcastle, won a nationwide schools design competition, run jointly by The FA, Premier League, Football League and British Council, to create a lasting legacy to the moment on Christmas Day 1914.
Video: Spencer surprised by England stars
Soldiers from both sides put down their weapon to meet in the spirit of friendship in ‘no-man’s land’.
The competition was judged by The Duke, president of The FA, along with Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott. It was originally open to more than 30,000 schools.
Spencer’s work is based at the Arboretum, not far from England's St. George's Park training base, and it was there that he was surprised by Hodgson, Under-21s head coach Gareth Southgate and players Walcott, Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Nathan Redmond.
The England coaches and staff were preparing for November matches at the national football centre. To commemorate Armistice Day, they made a special visit to the Arboretum to lay wreaths at the Armed Forces Memorial, which pays tribute to the thousands who have died in conflict or acts of terrorism since 1945.
Spencer chisels the sculpture's plinth
The youngster thought he was on a special visit to see his memorial being worked on. Wearing goggles and gloves, Spencer chipped away as he practiced engraving the plinth his final design will sit on and was deep in concentration as the England contingent appeared.
Eventually, he realised the group had been watching him work for a few minutes. "I thought I was seeing you next month?" exclaimed Spencer to the England manager.
Hodgson, who will be among the guests at Friday’s unveiling ceremony, presented Spencer with a signed England shirt and posed for pictures with the competition winner, alongside the other special visitors.
"Spencer's design just stood out," said Walcott. "It really caught my eye.
"The handshake within a football just fits within the bill."
Hodgson added: "To be chosen a the design out of all those entrants is something very, very special. I know he's proud."
