Photo: that was my first football when I was kid... and I remember my father didn't let me use it because he put grease on it, to conserve it for a long time... daddy, I just want to use it, at least one time, lol.
Sasi Strallen, who will play the title role in the pantomime at the Wyvern Theatre this year, joined Paolo in what the football legend described as being like Beauty and the Beast at the County Ground.
The occasion saw the soon-to-be Cinderella, who may be more used to fancy dress balls than footballs, to kick-start the pantomime season.
Sasi, 17, who is the niece of entertainer Bonnie Langford, said she couldn’t wait to take to the stage next month.
“I’m just so excited,” she said.“I walked out in to the auditorium for the first time today and it feels like the audience are very close to the stage so it will be nice to see people smiling. I hope they enjoy themselves.
“I just love pantomime, is has been such a big part of my life growing up.”
Although trained in musical theatre, Sasi admitted to feeling nervous about her solo performance of Someone Like You, but said she can’t wait to take to the stage with such an established cast of actors, including TV presenter Keith Chegwin as Buttons.
“I’m quite nervous but I have been a big singer all my life – I think when rehearsals start I will be ringing my family for advice, but they believe in me and they know that I know what I am doing,” she said.
“I think the ultimate dream would be to eventually go in to film and television work.”
Paolo, who will officially turn the town centre Christmas lights on with Sasi, Keith Chegwin and Town players Lukas Magera and Mehdi Kerrouche tomorrow night, said: “I will be going to the pantomime – I have never been to one before, not in Swindon, but I have been to the theatre many times.
“I have seen Cats, and I have watched The Lion King seven times, by the end I understood the story. I think it will be a fantastic show, all the Swindon Town fans should go along.”
Rehearsals for the cast start at the end of the month and the juvenile chorus have already started learning their parts.
Cinderella runs from December 10 to January 8.
one of his best goals, they say the best one ever scored there
